06/24/1987 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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-- Ms. Wooten asked about the amount and type of housing located in the proposed expansion area. Mr. Byrne said that in the area bounded by 6tht 7tht Lincolnt e and Charneltont there are some apartment units and some buil di ngs with commercial activities on the first floor and residential units on the upper floors. He sa i d the tota 1 expansion area contains 26 dwelling unitst all judged to be in poor condition. Ms. Wooten said the purpose of her question was to assess the opportunity for rehabilitation of downtown housing in the expansion area. Mr. Byrne said there is essentially no such opportunity. In response to a question from Ms. Ehrmant Mr. Gleason said he expected this meeting to be used for discussion of the Urban Renewal Plan update issuest not for the council to make any motions. Responding to questions from Ms. Wootent Mr. Byrne said staff has almost no information regarding the plans of property owners to redevelop in the expansion area within the next 10 to 15 years. He said that with the exception of the Banana Warehouse propertYt the selection of the expansion area was not based on knowledge of plans for private redevelopment. Mr. Hibschman mentioned that the County plans to sell the land it owns in the proposed expansion area. Mr. Byrne said the County has been unsuccessfully marketing its three quarter-block parcels within the expansion area for several years. He said the County has expressed interest in having its properties included in the Urban Renewal District. Ms. Bascom asked what the advantage is for the County to have its properties included in the districtt what the City could do for these properties that the County could not do itself, and why the City should do these things for the e County. Mr. Byrne said the City tends to be much more active in promoting commercial development than the County is. He said a renewal agency has powers to deal with properties that a municipal or city government do not have. He said inclusion of the County-owned properties in the district will mean that these urban renewal powers will be available to put the County.s properties on the market and to work with potential developers. Alsot the Eugene Renewal Agency could fund parking garages in the areat which would greatly enhance the value and development appeal of the County-owned properties. Ms. Bascom said the tour given by staff of the expansion area was very helpful; she encouraged councilors who have not taken the tour to do so. Referring to the ratio of private investment to public investment in an areat Mr. Miller asked whether there is a point at which the Renewal Agency would be giving an unfair competitive advantage to private developers within the Urban Renewal Distr;ct--an advantage that might create blight outside the Urban Renewal boundary. Ms. Stewart said that in terms of loan programst the City looks for a ratio of 3:1 (i.e. t three private dollars invested for each public dollar invested). She said the development loan fund operates at a ratio of 6:1. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council June 24 t 1987 Page 7