10/13/1986 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Downtown Plan to develop downtown properties more intensely. For example, property owners could take advantage of City loan programs. e Replying to questions from Ms. Schue, Mr. Hibschman said the Downtown Commission has not discussed specifically what might have developed in the expansion area. He discussed the criteria for expanding the Urban Renewal District and how the proposed areas meet the criteria. Mr. Rutan said he agreed that the area near the Hult Center has not developed as he expected. Mr. Miller said an expansion of the renewal district might drain off money that is needed for improvement projects in the existing area. Ms. Wooten said she hoped the council would discuss how much of the lack of development was due to the recession or false expectations when it discusses the proposed expansion. She also wondered about the relationship of the proposed expansion to the IIdonutll district. Mr. Hansen wondered how an expansion of the Urban Renewal District would stimulate investment in the expansion area more than the investment would be stimulated otherwise. Mr. Hibschman said there is no guarantee that investment will be stimulated more than otherwise. Mr. Gleason added public improvements usually stimulate investment and it is unlikely that public improvements will be made in the downtown unless Tax Increment Funds are used. He said the downtown has been reconstructed in the last 15 years. Mr. Holmer wondered how expanding the borders of the urban renewal district e would increase the intensity of development in the expansion area. He asked for a definition of "intense" development. Ms. Wooten and Mr. Hansen said many comparatively new developments in the downtown are not intense. They mentioned the Benj. Franklin, Lathams, and Selco. Answering questions from Mr. Hansen, Mr. Hibschman said the motivating drive . . to expand the renewal district is the desire to implement the Downtown Plan. He said the proposed area for expansion meets the State definition of a IIblightedll area. He said there was no vote on the establishment of the Downtown Urban Renewal District. Replying to a question from Mayor Obie, Mr. Hibschman said there is no deadline for completing the update of the renewal plan: Ms. Wooten said the Fifth Street area is a unique part of the downtown and will need improvements in the next 10 to 15 years. She said she is not opposed to the expansion of the Urban Renewal District but the proposed area may not be the best. Answering her questions, Mr. Hibschman said the Fifth Street area does not have blight. He di scussed other tool s that could be used for improvements in the Fifth Street area. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 13, 1986 Page 3 I,