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<br /> e effort to make downtown's landlord-tenant complex operate like a shopping <br /> center: coordinated frontage design, common hours of operation, shared <br /> responsibility for maintenance and management of common areas, a master <br /> leasing strategy, shared parking, a concerted marketing effort, and so on. <br /> He said that CRM is a long-term effort; it cannot be achieved quickly. DEI <br /> is working on some elements of CRM (e.g., common hours), but its real focus <br /> for now is on items such as downtown security and marketing. <br /> Ms. Bascom said one positive point is the fact that the City and community <br /> have not given up on downtown. She also reiterated Mayor Obie's point about <br /> the need to be politically realistic. She said a lot has been done, and a <br /> lot can be done, to improve downtown access and circulation. <br /> Mr. Holmer stressed that although the City Council may not always support the <br /> commission's recommendations, it still needs the commission to propose a <br /> specific agenda for downtown. He also mentioned that the Lane Transit <br /> District (LTD) station is an important issue for downtown. <br /> Mr. Miller said the council has discussed the proposed reopening of <br /> Willamette Street a lot, but he asked if the issue has truly been put to <br /> rest. He did not think that the public has had an adequate opportunity to <br /> thoroughly consider the issue. <br /> Mr. Schwartz stressed that the City has a responsibility to maintain the <br /> public spaces downtown and to provide an adequate level of security (both the <br /> reality and the perception of security). He also reiterated that vehicular <br /> e access is cru~ial to the economic health of downtown. He said downtown is <br /> floundering, and things will only get worse unless access issues are <br /> addressed. <br /> Ms. Schue said there are many players in the downtown equation; compromise is <br /> required because individuals or groups do not always accomplish everything <br /> they want (including the City Council: witness the Eugene Water & Electric <br /> Board plaza). She also said that when public money is being spent, the <br /> sentiment of the public must be considered. The public was opposed to the <br /> proposed reopening of Willamette Street. Ms. Schue said she would like to <br /> express a positive assessment of downtown. Many positive things can happen <br /> for downtown (e.g., the proposed development at 8th and Willamette). She <br /> said people need to become enthusiastic about these possibilities in order to <br /> turn them into realities. Ms. Schue also said there are many ways to improve <br /> downtown access; people should pursue these rather than bemoaning the defeat <br /> of the Willamette Street proposal. Ms. Schue also mentioned that housing <br /> development in the greater downtown area needs to be encouraged. <br /> Ms. Young said the mall environment is good in many respects; however, she <br /> does have concerns about access issues. She said better access might <br /> decrease the vacancy rate on the mall and improve the perception of security. <br /> She added that a lot of progress has been made on West Broadway. <br /> Mayor Obie encouraged the commission to take a broader view of downtown, <br /> beyond the immediate core area of Broadway and Willamette. He also referred <br /> e MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 28, 1988 Page 4 <br />