Medford, Oregon, is taking a close look at the historic James A. Redden U.S. Courthouse, a downtown landmark that the federal government has placed on an accelerated list for sale or transfer.
City officials say they’re interested in the 29,834-square-foot building, but an acquisition is not settled. The city has not submitted a formal bid or financial offer, and local leaders say they’re still weighing whether the numbers make sense, especially as municipal court space at City Hall remains tight.
The next steps depend on the federal government’s surplusing process and a property appraisal that sets a baseline for negotiations. Under federal guidelines, surplus properties go to local government entities first before they open to private buyers.
For mason contractors and preservation-minded building teams, the story highlights a familiar reality for older civic masonry. The courthouse, described as a century-old masonry building, fails to meet modern seismic standards. It also has serious wheelchair accessibility challenges and an aging heating and cooling system, all of which add scope and cost to any reuse plan.
Timing is tied to Medford’s replacement federal courthouse, planned at 250 Rossanley Drive. Easterly Government Properties acquired the development land in June 2025 and expects to deliver the new 40,035-square-foot facility in the second half of 2027. City officials said they’ll run evaluations in parallel, comparing acquisition and retrofit costs against other options.
Read the full, original article from kobi5.com here.