CC Minutes - 04/12/10 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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concerning hazards and function inadequacies in the street design that needed correcting before construction continued on neighborhood streets. He said deterioration was occurring from large trucks and School District 4J and Lane Transit District (LTD) had expressed doubts about the safety of the streets for their uses. He said the City was legally liable if it ignored known traffic dangers and those hazards were being called out for the public record. He submitted a list of ten items related to the streets and suggested actions for addressing them. Paula Goodbar, Grant Street, Eugene, Eugene Storefront Art Project member, stated that she lived and worked in Eugene and was concerned with downtown blight. She explained that the project was a group of 400 local and regional artists that came together to explore the concept of using vacant storefronts for revitalization. Spaces made available would allow a local artist to install temporary art in the windows. She said the group was currently applying for nonprofit status and seeking grants and donations to support its efforts. She listed the benefits of storefront art and its impact on creating a vibrant downtown. She said the group was eager to work with property owners to provide them with a marketing and public relations opportunity. She hoped the council could help the project end the creeping urban blight that was taking over downtown. David P. Miller, 10th Alley, Eugene, Eugene Storefront Art Project member, said the project was a group of concerned citizens dedicated to creating temporary art projects to enliven the downtown area. He read the group's mission statement and explained its purpose and goals. He said the storefront art project wanted to add color to the downtown atmosphere and hoped that cultural and financial rewards would follow. He said property owners were being approached with a simple, quick and inexpensive plan to use art as a way to improve the quality of life for downtown residents and improve the environment for downtown development. He hoped that community leaders would support the project. Marc Gunther, Junction City, Eugene Storefront Art Project member, stated that he worked in Eugene and was concerned about the loss of architectural character through urban renewal. He noted that other communities enjoyed the economic benefits of historical architecture. He said the historic Post Office facility at 5 ffi Avenue and Willamette Street was going to be sold and the lack of details about preservation made the future of the structure uncertain. He hoped the public's ability to visit the building would not be restricted by a sale and noted it had been placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1955 because of its unique architecture, lobby and artwork. He said local artist Jerry Ross had formed a citizens' committee seeking to purchase the Post Office for use as a City of Eugene art and historical museum. He urged the council not to let the opportunity for using the building as a hub for downtown revitalization slip away. Meisha Linwood, Van Buren Street, Eugene, Eugene Storefront Art Project member, provided examples of how storefront art had assisted other communities to beautify downtown areas, make vacant properties more desirable and help local businesses. Sherry Franzen, Eugene, Eugene Storefront Art Project member, said she lived and worked in Eugene and was concerned about the many empty storefronts downtown. She said the project had made over a dozen proposals to property owners over the past two months and had successfully placed art in two storefronts and was negotiating for space in two other properties. She said other owners had declined or ignored the group's efforts, She said property owners could select art from local submissions and described the agreements that accompanied installations. She suggested a "carrot and stick" approach that would reward owners that filled empty storefronts and fine those that left properties vacant. MINUTES Eugene City Council April 12, 2010 Page 2