MYRTLE CREEK, OR. -- The Myrtle Creek City Council has voted to continue moving forward with the city’s plans to create an urban renewal district, that could give the city a face-lift.

City officials said they hadn’t even thought about an urban renewal district until they went to a “League of Oregon Cities” event 18 months ago.

Now they’ve hired a consultant, who determined it would be feasible to create an urban renewal district in the city.

Officials said the people of Myrtle Creek are excited because their city could get a face-lift, and the money won’t have to come from any new taxes.

“Well, it would freeze the property tax values inside the district at today’s values. So, every year, taxes go up three percent. So, this would freeze that, that number, and that three percent increase would go into urban renewal. What the city receives would stay the same for the next thirty years from those properties,” said City Administrator Sean Negerbon.

City officials believe the downtown area would likely be the site of the project, having identified older buildings that likely need to be brought up to code.

“An urban renewal district would allow us, at some point in time, perhaps to step in and help that along, or manage that, or do whatever,” said Mayor Ken Brouillard.

They hope to begin the tax freeze in October, and should be able to accumulate upwards of $8 million for projects after 30 years.