City of Eugene Urban Renewal Plan

On Thursday July 16th Eugene City Manager Jon Ruiz will be attending the July General Meeting of the Eugene Downtown Neighborhood Association to discuss the following points and the possibility of increasing the cap on Urban Renewal Funding as well as the outline of the district itself. As chairman, I find these proposals exciting. But please read below, come up with some questions for Mr Ruiz, attend our July meeting, and decide for yourself.

(From the city of Eugene)

Eugene has the opportunity to support the active, dense, and inviting development that we want to see downtown.
Proposed projects include enhancing the downtown arts & entertainment district, supporting business and park block improvements, and assisting Lane Community College and Veterans Administration Clinic developments.
Revenue from urban renewal is the only significant and dedicated funding source that allows the City to be a proactive, collaborative, and strategic partner in these projects. In order to make them a reality, the urban renewal plan needs to be amended to increase the spending limit and expand the district boundary to include the potential VA clinic site and the east park block.
Local Business Assistance

Local businesses and employers are vital to a thriving and productive downtown and they need our support now more than ever.
Matching grants could help strengthen local businesses with funds for building improvements, green upgrades, and energy efficiency measures like converting from steam power.
Lane Community College

LCC wants to build a new downtown center that is a model for sustainable development – providing affordable access to job-training and small business development in an innovative, “green” building with easy access to mass transit.
With the City’s support, LCC can make the new downtown campus a reality and be an anchor investment bringing people into the heart of downtown and creating momentum for other downtown investments.
Arts & Entertainment

With the recent move of Lord Leebrick Theater, we have the opportunity to create and support an arts and entertainment district along Broadway from Lord Leebrick to the Shedd, and on Willamette Street from the Hult Center to 13th Avenue.
Strengthening our arts and entertainment venues transforms downtown into a year-round destination for residents and for major events like conferences and the Olympic Trials.
Park Blocks Improvements

The Park Blocks are Eugene’s historic town square and home to the highly successful Saturday Market and Farmers’ Market which are in need of more space and improved facilities.
Improvements to these spaces could include safe permanent restrooms, a covered stage area, interactive art and water features, and traffic management enhancements.
Veterans Administration Clinic

The Veterans Administration is currently seeking a site for a 90,000 square foot clinic in Eugene and downtown is high on their list.
City assistance to assemble land parcels or assist with transportation connections, parking and other improvements may be critical to making the clinic a reality.
Urban Design & Street Car Planning
Updating the Eugene Downtown Plan could support investments in urban design features that promote safety, create walkable and inviting streets and plazas, and encourage shopping, working, living downtown.
Urban design planning could also promote innovative transportation solutions like a downtown streetcar as well as improved sidewalks and secured bicycle parking.
Living & Working Downtown

Housing is essential to the vitality and character of downtown. Urban renewal can support the creation of unique, desirable and affordable housing opportunities like Broadway Place, and the Tiffany Building.
Civic Campus

The City is currently looking at several options to address an unsafe and aging City Hall building. Locating City offices in closely linked buildings in an area of downtown could help revitalize properties and create efficiencies in City operations.