MEDFORD, Ore. (Mar. 21, 2026) — The Medford City Council on Wednesday approved a resolution establishing a new Economic Improvement District (EID) in partnership with the Downtown Medford Association, a move supporters say will help revitalize the city’s downtown core while critics raise concerns about costs and overlap with existing services.
The district will include properties bounded by Bear Creek and Oakdale Avenue, and between Sixth and Eighth streets. Under the plan, property owners will pay an annual fee based on a two-tier structure: $0.10 per square foot for most parcels and a reduced rate of $0.075 per square foot for properties owned by nonprofit or government entities.
According to the adopted framework, 60% of the district’s funding will go toward development, beautification and activation efforts. Another 28% will support advocacy, while the remaining 12% will be used for administration, contingency and collection costs. Proposed services include landscaping improvements, event and business support, grant writing and collaboration with organizations pursuing similar economic development goals.
The council’s decision followed a 30-day public notice period and a public hearing, during which property owners were invited to submit written and oral testimony. City officials said they received 32 responses — 26 in support and six in opposition. Of the support letters, 18 came from property owners and eight from other stakeholders.
Following the hearing, opposition among property owners rose slightly from 10% to 11%, remaining well below the 33% threshold required to halt the proposal.
Supporters of the EID described it as a catalyst for economic growth that will enhance downtown Medford’s appeal and help it compete with other cities across Oregon. Opponents, however, voiced concerns about the financial burden on small businesses, the potential duplication of city services and uncertainty over whether property owners will see direct benefits from the program.
The effort to create the district began with presentations from the Downtown Medford Association requesting city support. Between 2022 and 2025, the city allocated $350,000 from its Council Community Initiative Fund to assist with EID planning and broader downtown revitalization efforts.
In October 2025, the council directed staff to begin the formal EID formation process based on a draft plan, the first of three required steps. A final plan was adopted in January 2026, followed by required notifications to property owners and the council’s final approval after the public hearing.
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