Table of Contents

• Introduction to Moving to Southern Oregon
• Project 1: Asante Expansion in Medford
• Project 2: Medford Airport Expansion
• Project 3: Downtown Medford Redevelopment
• Project 4: New Federal Courthouse in North Medford
• Project 5: New Homes in South Medford (Addison Park)
• Project 6: Mountain Top Village in East Medford
• Project 7: Springbrook New Construction in East Medford
• Project 8: Capital Hill Reservoir Upgrade in Medford
• Project 9: Owl Plaza and Downtown Growth in Grants Pass
• Southern Oregon Events and Lifestyle
• What These Changes Mean for Moving to Southern Oregon
• FAQs About Everything New and Coming Soon to Southern Oregon in 2026

Introduction to Moving to Southern Oregon

If you are seriously thinking about moving to Southern Oregon, 2026 is one of those years that tells you a lot about where this region is headed. There is more major construction happening across the Rogue Valley and beyond than I can remember seeing all at once in more than 30 years here. Healthcare is expanding. The airport is preparing for the next stage of growth. New neighborhoods are going up. Water infrastructure is getting a major upgrade. Downtown redevelopment is back in the conversation in a big way.

That matters because moving to Southern Oregon is not just about what the area looks like today. It is also about what daily life will feel like a few years from now. A bigger airport improves access. Stronger healthcare makes it easier to stay long term. New housing gives buyers more options. Better infrastructure supports everything underneath it.

There are also tradeoffs. Construction creates inconvenience. Timelines can slip. Some projects are controversial. One is tied up in court right now. So the real value here is getting the full picture.

Below is a clear rundown of the biggest projects and local happenings shaping Southern Oregon in 2026, especially for anyone considering moving to Southern Oregon and wanting to understand what is changing before they make the leap.

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Project 1: Asante Expansion in Medford

Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center expansion

Healthcare is one of the biggest questions that comes up with people considering moving to Southern Oregon, and for good reason. For many households, especially retirees or anyone planning long term, healthcare is one of the top deciding factors.

The biggest healthcare story in Medford is the continued expansion at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. Part of that work is already complete. In early 2024, Asante opened a new six story patient pavilion that added about 323,000 square feet to the campus at a cost of roughly $450 million.

This was not a light refresh. It was a major upgrade that added more than 20 modern operating rooms, including robotic surgery capabilities, along with significant growth in intensive care capacity. The top floors became a dedicated women’s and children’s hospital, bringing maternity and pediatric services together in one place. It also introduced Oregon’s first obstetrics emergency department, which means a dedicated emergency space for pregnancy related complications.

What is still in progress is the next cardiac phase. That includes:

• Six new cardiac catheterization labs
• Thirty cardiovascular prep and recovery rooms
• A new cardiac MRI

The current target for completion is fall 2026. That is important because this is not just a local hospital trying to act bigger than it is. Rogue Regional already handles a high volume of heart procedures and has performed strongly on heart failure outcomes. In practical terms, stronger cardiac care means more serious treatment can happen here in Medford instead of sending people hours away.

For anyone moving to Southern Oregon, that is a meaningful quality of life factor.

Project 2: Medford Airport Expansion

Rogue Valley International Medford Airport expansion

The airport story is a big one. In 2025, the Medford airport handled a record 1.1 million passengers, beating its previous high and continuing a strong growth trend.

The challenge is that the current terminal is not that old, but it was designed for a different era. Airlines have moved away from smaller regional aircraft and toward larger planes, and the terminal is starting to feel that pressure.

Jackson County is moving forward with a roughly $184 million terminal expansion that would nearly double the building size. Plans include:

• A two story concourse
• More gates
• Additional ticketing counters
• A fourth TSA screening lane

This is not a vague future idea. Design work is underway and construction proposals have already been sought. Building could begin soon, with phased work rolling into the coming years while the airport stays operational.

Why does this matter for moving to Southern Oregon? Access. Better flight options and easier travel can make a huge difference, especially for people relocating from out of state. Family visits become easier. Travel days become less painful. Over time, a stronger airport helps the whole region feel less isolated.

Project 3: Downtown Medford Redevelopment

Downtown Medford’s Creekside Quarter and the stadium question

This is probably the boldest and most debated project on the list. Creekside Quarter is a large scale redevelopment concept for downtown Medford and the Bear Creek corridor, with an estimated value around half a billion dollars.

The broader concept includes housing, retail, office space, a conference center, and a redesigned creek corridor. A major reason many locals are interested is the chance to transform a struggling area that has long been associated with disorder and underuse.

The most talked about piece is the possible stadium. Medford is in the running for a new home for the Eugene Emeralds, a High A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. The city and team have agreed to split the cost of a design and engineering study, and two sites are being evaluated:

• Hawthorne Park near Bear Creek
• Harry & David Field

Estimated stadium costs are in the ballpark of $80 million to $120 million. Medford voters already approved a lodging tax increase to help fund the broader redevelopment, with hotel guests carrying that burden rather than local homeowners.

But this one is far from settled. There is active opposition, especially from those who do not want parkland used for a stadium. There are also questions about development progress and whether the financial model will ultimately work.

Still, if this project happens, it could dramatically change how people think about that part of Medford. For nearby neighborhoods, that kind of reinvestment can have a real ripple effect.

Project 4: New Federal Courthouse in North Medford

The mystery building at Northgate is a new federal courthouse

If you have been around the Northgate Shopping Center near REI, Chick-fil-A, Chipotle, and the rest of that cluster, you have probably noticed a large building going up and wondered what in the world it was.

Mystery solved. It is a new federal courthouse.

The project is a 52,000 square foot, two story building that will house federal district and magistrate courtrooms along with support offices. The contract is around $15 million, and the site was chosen largely because of easy access to Interstate 5.

One interesting wrinkle is what this means for the historic James A. Redden Courthouse downtown. That older courthouse dates back to the 1910s and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is being offered for sale as part of a larger federal property selloff, and Medford has expressed interest in acquiring it.

So this one is not just about a new building in Northgate. It also opens a new chapter for a downtown landmark.

Project 5: New Homes in South Medford (Addison Park)

Addison Park by DR Horton

On the housing front, Addison Park in South Medford is one of the biggest neighborhood projects happening in the city.

DR Horton is building roughly 300 homes there as part of a broader 487 unit subdivision in the Oak Grove and West Main area. The homes start in the mid $300,000s, with floor plans ranging from around 1,250 square feet to over 2,300 square feet and layouts from three to five bedrooms.

Phase one is largely sold out, and phase two is under construction. What makes Addison Park more interesting than a standard subdivision is that public investment is going in alongside the houses. The city is putting about $750,000 into an eight acre public park inside the neighborhood.

Planned amenities include:

• Playground
• Picnic shelter
• Dog park
• Basketball courts
• Splash pad
• Pickleball courts

For buyers interested in moving to Southern Oregon and wanting a newer, turnkey home at a relatively attainable price point, Addison Park stands out. The obvious tradeoff is that living in a developing community means living with construction for a while.

Project 6: Mountain Top Village in East Medford

Mountain Top Village apartment complex

Not every project is being welcomed with open arms. Mountain Top Village is one of the most contested developments in the region right now.

The proposal is for 199 apartments across 11 three story buildings on a 25 acre parcel below Roxy Ann Peak in East Medford. That is a part of town known for higher end homes, so it is no surprise this has sparked a strong response.

The site is within a larger planned development approved years ago, but revisions to the housing type and building scale triggered major pushback. Nearby residents have raised concerns about:

• Traffic
• Wildfire evacuation
• Whether the building height fits the area

The planning commission approved the project on a narrow vote, but the dispute escalated. The developer filed legal action tied to planning deadlines, which moved the matter out of city council hands and into Jackson County Circuit Court. As things stand, a judge will decide what happens next.

This is the kind of local issue that matters if you are moving to Southern Oregon and specifically shopping East Medford. Growth pressure is real, and the outcome here may shape future hillside development.

Project 7: Springbrook New Construction in East Medford

Springbrook by Hayden Homes

Still in East Medford, but in a much less contentious category, Springbrook is an active Hayden Homes community off Springbrook Road.

Hayden Homes is offering four floor plans there, ranging from about 1,575 square feet to a little over 2,200 square feet. Some lots include three car garages, and there are both single level and two story options.

Two things make this especially relevant. First, single level homes are a major priority for a lot of relocation buyers. Second, this community does not have an HOA, which is becoming increasingly rare in newer developments.

Hayden also has Delta Estates nearby, giving buyers more options in the same general area if one community does not fit.

Again, the tradeoff is familiar. If you buy into an active development, expect trucks, noise, and unfinished surroundings for a while.

Project 8: Capital Hill Reservoir Upgrade in Medford

Capital Hill reservoir replacement

This project may be the least glamorous one here, but it might be the most important in day to day life.

Medford’s water system relies on aging reservoirs on Capital Hill in East Medford. Some date back to 1908, 1927, and the 1940s. They have served the community for a long time, but they were not built with major earthquake resilience in mind.

Medford Water is replacing those older reservoirs with one modern, earthquake resilient tank holding 12 million gallons. The construction contract is around $31 million, and the work is planned in phases so water service continues uninterrupted.

This is part of a larger long term push that puts more than $200 million into regional water infrastructure over the next decade.

For nearby residents, the downside is obvious. There will be heavy equipment and construction activity for a while. But from a regional perspective, this is exactly the kind of responsible investment you want to see before there is a crisis.

Project 9: Owl Plaza and Downtown Growth in Grants Pass

Owl Plaza in Grants Pass

Crossing into Josephine County, downtown Grants Pass is getting Owl Plaza, a $1.6 million urban renewal project that upgrades the intersections of 5th Street with G and H.

The redesign adds lighting, trees, decorative paving, and a more flexible public space that can function as parking most days but also close for markets, events, and community gatherings. It is the same area known for the city’s holiday tree, so this should give downtown a stronger centerpiece.

This matters because Grants Pass continues to appeal to practical buyers who want a strong small downtown feel, lower property taxes than Jackson County, and good everyday value. More investment in downtown only strengthens that case.

Southern Oregon Events and Lifestyle

Britt Festival in Jacksonville

All the construction is one side of the story. The other side is why people love living here in the first place.

The Britt Festival in Jacksonville is one of the best examples. Set in a beautiful hillside amphitheater under tall pines, it brings major music and arts programming to a historic Gold Rush town. Around 100,000 people attend each year, and once you spend an evening there, it makes sense.

The 2026 season includes orchestra performances and a live concert lineup with major names across different genres, plus comedy nights. For a smaller region, that is an impressive level of entertainment close to home.

Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland

Ashland’s cultural engine remains the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, now deep into its long running history and still one of the most important theater organizations in the country.

The current season runs from spring through late October across three theaters, including productions on the outdoor Elizabethan stage. The mix includes classics, contemporary works, and major audience favorites.

When festival season is active, Ashland has a noticeably different rhythm. Restaurants stay lively, downtown stays busy, and the town carries an energy that feels larger than its size.

Rogue River rafting season

No Southern Oregon summer conversation is complete without the Rogue River. It was one of the country’s original federally designated wild and scenic rivers, and its wild section continues to draw thousands of rafters every year.

Rafting season generally runs from May through October, though many people think of the heart of the season as late June through September. There are family friendly stretches with moderate rapids and more advanced sections for experienced whitewater enthusiasts.

Water levels shift through the season, so local outfitters are always the best source for current conditions. But the bigger point is simple. The river is not just recreation. It is part of the identity of the region.

What These Changes Mean for Moving to Southern Oregon

If you are moving to Southern Oregon, the key takeaway is not just that projects are happening. It is that several major systems are moving at the same time.

• Healthcare is getting stronger in Medford
• Transportation is improving with airport expansion
• Housing options are growing in both South and East Medford
• Infrastructure is being upgraded before failure forces the issue
• Downtowns are actively being reshaped in Medford and Grants Pass

That does not mean every project will finish on time or exactly as planned. It does mean the Southern Oregon of 2028 is likely going to feel different from the Southern Oregon of today.

For some people, that is a reason to move sooner and get ahead of the curve. For others, it is a reason to wait and see how a specific part of town changes. That is why moving to Southern Oregon is never just about picking a house. It is about matching the right community to your budget, lifestyle, access needs, and long term goals.

If healthcare is the big driver, Medford’s medical investment may matter most. If downtown energy and value are priorities, Grants Pass might deserve a closer look. If you want newer homes, South and East Medford both offer different kinds of opportunities. If you care most about culture, Ashland and Jacksonville still punch well above their weight.

The smart move is understanding which of these changes actually affect the way you want to live.

EXPLORE HOMES FOR SALE IN SOUTHERN OREGON

FAQs About Everything New and Coming Soon to Southern Oregon in 2026