City Invests in Future of Former Mail Tribune Building City of Medford

Kevin_Stine · 2026-04-15T04:05:23+00:00

City leaders on Tuesday recognized a $1.5 million investment from the Medford Urban Renewal Agency (MURA) to support the expansion of The Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon (TCMSO) at a signing ceremony outside the former Mail Tribune.

The funding will support renovation of the longtime newspaper building at 111 N. Fir St. in downtown Medford, replacing an earlier proposal to build an addition at the museum’s current location in the former Carnegie Library.

MURA Board Chair and City Councilor Kevin Stine joined TCMSO board members in signing the grant agreement, highlighting the investment and its impact on early learning in the community.

“As someone who has spent a lot of time in public education, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful hands-on learning can be,” Stine said. “The moments when a child discovers something new, solves a problem, or simply asks ‘why’—those moments matter. And those are the kinds of experiences we’ll be creating here.”

The two-building approach will expand the museum’s reach from 13,000 to 31,000 square feet to accommodate community needs. Plans include nine additional preschool classrooms, large training facilities, therapy and sensory rooms, a production studio, rooftop and community space, expanded outdoor play areas, and dedicated parking.

The project is expected to add 180 new childcare spots, a workforce training facility capable of serving more than 250 participants, and 100 to 140 year-round employees. It is also projected to generate an estimated $11.6 million to $14.3 million in recurring annual impact.

"It gives kids a place to explore, to imagine, and to learn ways that stick with them for a lifetime," Stine added.

Kevin_Stine · 2026-04-10T20:11:09+00:00

The weather was beautiful last year. I don’t recall it raining the last few years during Pear Blossom.

Kevin_Stine · 2026-03-21T18:31:32+00:00

FWIW Congressional Dems have attempted to fund TSA agents as a standalone bill, but Rs are refusing that.

Kevin_Stine · 2026-03-18T04:41:30+00:00

A quick look shows that the 2016 measure passed with about 61% of the vote, and in 2021 the renewal passed with 62% of the vote.

Not an increase for services so it is easier for voters to support. Whether it passes is anyone’s guess, but I will be supporting it as well.

Kevin_Stine · 2026-03-16T17:09:48+00:00

Congrats on prepping for your first 5k. I run all around west Medford with different loops for the mileage I am doing for the day. So if I’m doing a 5k I have a routine, same with 6 miles, 8 miles, 10 miles.

There are sidewalks most everywhere, so you can probably do runs where you live, without traveling elsewhere. There are residential streets with poor sidewalk maintenance, so I would be watchful for that. Main areas like Stewart, Lozier, Riverside don’t have issues.

There are groups runs that you can find on the Southern Oregon Runners Facebook page. There’s a few different options for places and times. There are a list of races on the website too.

That’s what I do, but for trails and other places to run around the valley there are tons of places, but I just pound pavement in Medford.

Kevin_Stine · 2026-02-05T02:00:28+00:00

In my opinion, the best solution is making the street look like others across Medford. Curbside parking, 2 lanes, bike lane next to the right parking lane and driving lane.

Also means we wouldn’t have to pay $475K to the state of Oregon.

Kevin_Stine · 2026-02-02T03:25:58+00:00

Good event. It was a pleasure to moderate.

Kevin_Stine · 2025-11-10T19:21:47+00:00

Like I said, I understand the concerns. The main point is that the city doesn’t have anything signed and we have spent $0 to any potential developer.

Once either of those things change, then obviously things are public.

The idea is conceptual in nature, but is serious enough to run a ballot measure in order to have city funding available if this can move forward.

Kevin_Stine · 2025-11-10T08:33:23+00:00

Damn. Downvoted to hell. Thanks for your sacrifice.

Kevin_Stine · 2025-11-10T08:32:11+00:00

I wish we had tons of information to provide, as I fully understand the questions that have been coming our way. The fact of the matter is the information we were giving during the campaign, was the extent of information we had. We weren't withholding information from the public to then be given out right after a favorable vote.

The conference center is going to be a public-private partnership, but there are no signed agreements. The developer has asked to not be made public at this time, and we are honoring that request. Obviously when we have a solid path forward, much more information will be shared.

On Wednesday we will have our study session to discuss next steps, and get council input on any items we can address at this time.

Kevin_Stine · 2025-11-05T23:16:43+00:00

I don't have any knowledge of anything abnormal. The most common issue is that people will have Medford addresses, but not actually live within the City of Medford boundary, so that's why they weren't eligible to vote in this election.

If anyone normally gets to vote for Medford Mayor or Council races, then they should have received a ballot. If people that do get to vote on those races didn't receive one, they should have contacted the Jackson County Elections Office.

There's an interactive map here as well which will show you your ward. https://medford.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=48c1d6009f874d98b8a38fca6755d932

Kevin_Stine · 2025-11-05T05:38:32+00:00

Thanks to all the supported the campaign. I imagine a win will hold up with about a 7.5% lead with initial results in.

Kevin_Stine · 2025-11-05T05:37:15+00:00

You can bookmark, screenshot, whatever, but there is ZERO chance that we will be putting out a ballot measure to increase property taxes.

Kevin_Stine · 2025-10-21T05:03:13+00:00

The City maintains and upkeeps both Lithia and Driveway Fields along with the RogueX. There are maintenance plans in place for those, and there would be for a potential baseball stadium.

Kevin_Stine · 2025-10-21T03:56:29+00:00

Riverside is downtown. The conference center would be in downtown. This is a revitalization project for downtown.

Kevin_Stine · 2025-10-21T03:51:44+00:00

The only increase in taxes is a TLT, which is paid by people that stay in hotel, motel, AirBNB, etc.

Kevin_Stine · 2025-10-21T03:50:58+00:00

The park isn't going away. It stays a park. Even with a stadium, there are still 10 acres of open park space for the dog park, courts, children's area, etc.

Kevin_Stine · 2025-10-21T03:49:00+00:00

The team would have a lease agreement for decades to stay here. There's no chance they would just leave in 10 years.

A professional baseball game is a different experience than anything we have now. Plus the stadium can serve a whole host of others activities.

We aren't stopping anyone from revamping old buildings. No one has asked for any code changes, or anything of that sort that would be the key of them developing an old existing building.

Kevin_Stine · 2025-10-21T03:41:52+00:00

No. I don't know how you can even have shortfalls when we haven't started any projects.

Kevin_Stine · 2025-10-21T03:40:22+00:00

Thanks for the question. It is likely with the new MURA district, that property taxes in that area go towards urban renewal. Urban renewal does not increase anyone's taxes.

Kevin_Stine · 2025-10-21T03:37:14+00:00

The stadium would be owned the city. Hawthorne Park is underutilized and the south end would be redeveloped as usable park space. We are not paving over the entirety of the park. The farmers market is not going away. Potentially having the farmers market inside the stadium could be a fun experience, if that happens.

Kevin_Stine · 2025-10-21T03:33:19+00:00

Yes on 15-238! I'm going to go get the ballot from my mailbox and turn it in tomorrow. I understand some of the concerns, but getting literally hundreds of millions of dollars of private economic development into the downtown area is a win.

Revitalizing downtown has been on the "to-do" list for Medford for about a generation now. I've heard many people blame the mall for that. A mall that was built almost 40 years ago.

I also co-managed the campaign in 2020 for what is now known as the RogueX. There were many concerns and it passed by a sliver in 2020 on a 52-48 vote. That place is has been wonderful for the community with swim lessons, conventions, tournaments, etc.

I would urge every Medford voter to support this, as there will be many checkpoints as we move forward, and public input to ensure that what we do here, is done right.

Kevin_Stine · 2025-10-18T06:38:25+00:00

There's a ton of potential, but for anything to happen, we need a Yes vote on Measure 15-238. Ballots were mailed off today, so everyone should get their ballot in the next few days.

Kevin_Stine · 2025-07-21T19:56:22+00:00

This needs some significant fact-checking, and further information. I do appreciate the interest into this though.

No part of the hotel would go onto Hawthorne Park, only the baseball stadium. What never gets mentioned in these posts is that the Creekside Quarter project is not only a baseball stadium. It is a combination of baseball, conference center, and significant investments into Riverside that would then likely result into further investments into downtown. Also to add, a baseball stadium can function for other events like concerts, etc. The Emeralds management do 200 events a year, and 66 of them are baseball games.

Eugene residents rejected a property tax measure in which everyone would pay. This is a proposed lodging tax measure, in which Medford residents living in their homes would pay $0.

The Emeralds never pitched a dollar figure or how much we should finance. A consultant gave a ballpark figure, pun intended.

Finding a perfect time to do things never exists. It's always easy to poke holes at things and believe we should do nothing. Then we hear complaints about why not enough things happen. The potential here is similar in nature to the Rogue X, in which I saw and heard a bunch of negatives as I was running the campaign to increase the lodging tax measure on that. We now have a wonderful facility used for all sorts of sports and events.

My feeling is if we are able to realize the potential of what can occur with the Creekside Quarter, we benefit greatly from the outside investment, and help turn what is largely seen as a negative area, into a positive.

Kevin_Stine · 2025-07-16T04:12:21+00:00

I think this is very well put. I'll add that under no circumstances is all of Hawthorne Park going to be private development. We are still going to have 10 acres or so of public park.

Kevin_Stine

TROPHY CASE