10/09/1985 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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IV. IMPROVEMENTS TO GARAGE (memo distributed) e City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the agenda item. Greg Byrne of the Eugene Development Department gave the staff report. He said the 10th and Oak Overpark Assessment District has been dissolved, the Overpark Fund operations have been balanced, and the management of the Overpark has been changed in the 1 ast year. He said the building needs to be upgraded because it is a public asset which provides parking for the general public in an area of intensive downtown development, because it has not been upgraded since it was built 15 years ago, and because it contains commercial space which should produce enough income to offset the costs of operating the parking areas. Mr. Byrne said commercial activities on the ground floor of a parking garage increase the vitality of an area. Mr. Byrne said the Overpark was not improved previously because the commercial space did not produce enough profit for the private management to upgrade it and the City would not have realized any financial benefits from the improve- ments. The Overpark Fund does not pay the central service allocation which all other City funds pay. Those regular City costs have been forgiven the Overpark Fund. There is no money in the Overpark Fund to pay for capital improvements. Some energy-saving devices were installed and they paid for themselves in less than a year. Mr. Byrne said the Downtown Commission recommended approval of the proposal and indicated less costly methods should be used if possible. e Mr. Byrne introduced Eric Jungjohann, property manager for commercial space in the Eugene Development Department. Answering a question from Mr. Hansen, Mr. Byrne reviewed what would be inclu- ded in each of the proposed improvements. Lease space improvements such as carpeting would be completed only if a tenant had signed a lease for the space. Storefront and ground level renovation would involve painting and other improvements to make the commercial space more competitive. The alley improvements and short-term parking would provide lighting and provide high- turnover parking for the tenants. Improvements to the ground floor entries will make the breezeways more attractive for the businesses which front on them. An exterior stairway would provide visibility for people using the parking decks, but it might cost more than the estimated $50,000 because of structural problems. Parking signs and lights would improve the parking decks. Stairwell and upper entry renovation would improve the areas around the stairs and elevators. The concrete cutting on the parking decks would provide openings in the north and south ends of the building to provide natural 1 i ght. Mr. Byrne emphasized that the proposed costs are only esti- mates. Funds are not available for detailed costs. Replying to questions from Ms. Ehrman and Mr. Miller, Mr. Byrne said an exter- ior elevator for the Overpark would cost about $150,000. There are two sets of restrooms in the Overpark. They are not accessible to disabled people now. One or both of them would become accessible to the disabled when the ground floor entries are improved. ,e MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 9, 1985 Page 4