06/16/1986 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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that can establish uniform operating hours and a well-funded advertising e concept. He discussed other changes such as increased security, expanded street and sidewalk cleaning services, employee training assistance, a continuous parking concept, leasing assistance, and a retail strategy for an improved tenant mix. He said property values need to be stabilized and the downtown needs to be a vital and dynamic area. He said the downtown could be enjoying an additional $30 million to $40 million in business. He urged the council to approve the proposed changes quickly. Bill Sweet, 65 West 26th, is a director of the Eugene Downtown Association. He submitted a petition with 30 signatures of downtown merchants and business people who support the proposed changes. He said no one refused to sign the petition. He said the restrooms in the center of the mall should be removed this year and, if necessary, they should be replaced with Buck toilets until a better location for the restrooms can be found. He said the project should be completed soon because competing sites, such as the Valley River Center, are being improved. He said new street lights are very important to the downtown. Alan Evans, 2826 Floral Hill Drive, is a commercia' real estate broker. He said the Broadway corridor is like a dark tunnel now. He favored the proposed improvements because they will make the area light and spacious. He said public investments create private investments. He said the opening of Willamette Street from 10th to 'lth streets resulted in the sale and renovation of the McDonald Theatre. Dave Dillman, 175 West Broadway, said many people think the downtown mall is a e park and very few public investments have been made in the mall since 1969. He said a downtown should have a strong retail core and a professional base, but many businesses have come and gone in the Eugene downtown recently. He said external changes in the mall should be made now. He said the basic issue is whether the changes will increase the volume of existing businesses and encourage new businesses to locate in the downtown. He said most of the community will approve the changes. He said 80 percent of the shoppers at The Bon do not enter the mall to use the restrooms or playground. He said The Bon, Centre Court, the Parcade, and the Overpark provide restrooms. He said all the proposed changes should be made this year, and the mall should be opened to new events and a new vitality. Linn Spaulding, 980 Lincoln, said he enjoys the mall as it is. He likes to walk in the mall and, sometimes, use the restrooms and the postal station on Broadway. He said he is a consumer. He said a special magic is needed in a mall. He would like more night activities on the mall. He misses the play- ground that was on Wi11amette Street between 10th and 11th avenues and he will miss the playground on Broadway. Gary Kutcher, 2638 Hawkins Lane, opposed the proposed changes. He asked the council to consider them carefully and to encourage public comment on them. He said business difficulties are not caused by the structures on the mall. He said the mall is an enjoyable place to spend time. He likes the large e MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 16, 1986 Page 5