In this detailed testimony submitted to the McMinnville Historic Landmarks Committee, Quinn Millegan presents a comprehensive case against the demolition of the historic Cooperative Ministries church. While we are strong advocates for dense, affordable housing in our downtown core, achieving that density must not require the destruction of recognized historic assets. This report provides a line-by-line financial teardown of the developer's claims that saving the building would cost over $6.5 million, proving that the structure can be safely stabilized for immediate occupancy for a fraction of that inflated price. Furthermore, the analysis highlights a glaring misallocation of capital—pointing out that the developer is simultaneously choosing to spend nearly $400,000 to expand a non-historic 1990s building on the same lot—and details exactly how this demolition request fails to meet McMinnville Municipal Code criteria. Read the full report to see the data-driven proof that completely viable, legally sound alternatives exist that can deliver the housing McMinnville needs without bulldozing our cultural heritage.

In a detailed objection to the proposed demolition of McMinnville’s historic Methodist Church, JW Millegan argues that the city is being presented with a false choice between affordable housing and historic preservation. He supports redevelopment of the block, more downtown housing, and reduced parking requirements, but contends that the historic 1941 brick church should be preserved while the newer addition is removed. His core argument is that Oregon’s new housing law, SB 1537, gives the city more flexibility to approve a dense, financially viable project without destroying the site’s most historically significant structure. In his view, demolishing the historic core when a preservation-based alternative exists would not only undermine McMinnville’s preservation goals, but also set a damaging precedent for future redevelopment decisions.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), established via the Homeland Security Act of 2002, is characterized in this report as a redundant and constitutionally ambiguous federal police power. Created in response to the September 11 attacks, the department centralized 22 disparate agencies and 240,000 employees. This report proposes a complete dissolution of the DHS, advocating for a return to the "Pre-1891 Constitutional Model" of governance, emphasizing competitive federalism and the restoration of state sovereignty.

This testimony is submitted to the Senate Committee on Housing and Development in fierce and unequivocal opposition to Senate Bill 1522, specifically the -1 amendment. We write this not merely as observers of the legislative process, but as lifelong Oregonians, as active participants in the state’s economic development through the Pegasus Equestrian destination resort, and with direct experience with the foundational leadership that established the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) over fifty years ago. This testimony has been written by the Millegan Brothers, Drew Millegan & Quinn Millegan, on behalf of Millegan Brothers, Millegan Media, & Pegasus Equestrian International. As young professionals (30 & 27), we represent Oregon’s next generation.