Council Member Mike Machesek presented the McCall Redevelopment Agency (MRA) annual report at the Oct. 21 McCall City Council meeting, outlining an active participation agreement and funding plan tied to a large downtown housing project.
The MRA, Machesek said, is a seven‑member board that oversees revitalization within the Downtown West urban renewal plan. He told council the agency has entered an owner participation agreement with the Idaho Ward Apartments project, a 126‑unit development that the MRA expects will include 31 local‑housing units and has an estimated value of $45,000,000.
Why it matters: Machesek said the development lies inside the MRA district and is expected to generate tax increment financing (TIF) revenue to reinvest in district infrastructure. That revenue, he said, will be used in part to reimburse off‑site sewer improvements that enable this project and future projects within the district.
Details and council reaction
Machesek told council the agency expects the project to produce an estimated $3.4 million to $4.7 million in tax increment funds over time, and that the MRA has committed to reimburse infrastructure costs for the project "not to exceed $2,600,000" to support sewer improvements. "The MRA has been utilizing city staff towards MRA business," Machesek said, and the board plans to formalize an administration and support services agreement with the city to track staff time and reimburse the city up to $50,000 annually.
Machesek also summarized smaller MRA efforts, including light‑box art wraps produced by local artists and ongoing public engagement to explain tax increment financing and the agency role. He told council the board is pursuing additional public‑private partnerships, land acquisition opportunities and grant matches to support local housing inside the district.
Mayor Giles and other council members thanked the MRA board for the work. Giles said she hears positive comments about McCall MRA from around the state and urged the board to continue its public engagement and transparent budgeting practices.
Ending
Machesek and board members described the agency as having "good momentum" as the Downtown West plan begins producing projects and revenues that can be reinvested in infrastructure and housing.