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Urban renewal board delegates staff to finalize $350,000 seismic aid package for Living Waters Church
Summary
Medford urban renewal board directed staff to draft and execute a grant/loan agreement totaling $350,000 (a $175,000 grant and $175,000 0% loan) for seismic retrofit and related work at Living Waters Church, then bring the executed agreement back to the board for ratification. The motion passed with one abstention.
The Medford urban renewal board (MURA) on Sept. 3 directed staff to draft and execute an agreement that would deliver $350,000 to Living Waters Church — split as a $175,000 grant and a $175,000 0% loan secured against the property — for seismic retrofits and completion work.
The board’s motion authorized staff to negotiate and sign the grant-and-loan agreement immediately and return the executed document to the board for ratification. Board members said the split grant/loan structure balances the board’s interest in supporting building resilience and downtown revitalization while protecting the agency against a short-term resale windfall.
Project proponents and some board members described the building as already improved from a blight-control perspective and said seismic work will expand the building’s usefulness for assemblies, potential commercial tenancy and emergency-response use. Opponents expressed reservations about providing public funds to a nonprofit property owner and asked for clarity on whether the building would remain owned and operated by the church.
Board staff said the loan will be due on sale of the property; they also offered options such as forgiveness after a term (for example, 10 years) if the board later agreed. Project terms discussed at the meeting included a 0% interest loan and an amortizing lien secured to the property.
The motion to delegate authority to staff passed with one abstention (the mayor) and the remainder of the board voting yes. Staff will draft the agreement consistent with the terms discussed and circulate the executed document to board members before the Sept. 17 meeting for formal ratification.
