Harrison Avenue URD board approves grants for Carquest and Valvoline sites, tweaks application rules

The Harrison Avenue South Urban Revitalization District Board of Directors on Jan. 13 approved two grant awards for Harrison Avenue properties and adopted clarifying changes to its application language.

The board approved a grant of up to $7,056.41 — 30% of eligible costs — to AMT Holding of Oregon, LLC (Carquest) for exterior improvements at 3639 Harrison Ave, including sealing and coating the parking lot, installing irrigation and landscaping. The application lists total project costs at $23,521.35. The applicant, identified as Ty, said he plans to add a lawn strip with four trees and to complete the entire lot; he told the board the work is tentatively scheduled for May or June and should finish by mid-summer. The motion to approve the grant carried unanimously.

The board also approved a grant of up to $150,000 (20% of eligible costs) for a two‑bay Valvoline quick-lube proposed by QAS II, LLC at 3502 Harrison Ave. The application lists project costs at $1.5 million. Dalon, the applicant’s representative, said the franchisee operates multiple Montana locations and expects roughly 30 oil changes per day at peak; the business aims to open around July. That motion carried unanimously.

In its regular reports, Director Karen Byrnes said staff are fielding many RFIs and will host a state-organized site tour for a prospective company; she also noted recent and pending retail activity including a new Tractor Supply, a Planet Fitness grand opening scheduled for Jan. 17, and ongoing mall redevelopment. Byrnes said Winco’s building plans are under review with the city’s planning department and staff are coordinating with the BID on the Uptown Master Plan.

Finance staff member Pauline Giacomino told the board the URD currently has about $2.4 million in unappropriated incremental revenue and that staff added a Howard Avenue landscaping design to the development-agreement tracking spreadsheet; she estimated landscaping costs could be under $80,000. Giacomino and Byrnes said the district’s statutory life is 15 years unless the board pursues bonding for infrastructure; staff are working with Public Works on an infrastructure analysis that could prompt a future bonding request.

The board approved a set of modest application-language updates intended to preserve a requirement that no work begin before board approval, while allowing staff discretion to address emergencies and to work with applicants when schedules slip. Pauline Giacomino told the board that changing the "no work before approval" language could create loopholes that invite retroactive requests; the board agreed to retain the provision and adopted a one‑year guideline for project completion with flexibility when warranted.

Votes at a glance: the board unanimously approved minutes from Oct. 14, 2025 (motion by Jeremy Whitlock, seconded by Tony Michlig); approved the 3639 Harrison Ave grant (motion by Rick Edwards, seconded by Tony Michlig); approved the 3502 Harrison Ave grant (motion by Rick Edwards, seconded by Jeremy Whitlock); and approved the application-language updates (motion by Tony Michlig, seconded by Jeremy Whitlock). The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 a.m.

The board did not record additional public comment in the meeting minutes. Staff noted they will continue outreach and coordinate with the state and local partners on prospective development activity along Harrison Avenue.