07/13/1987 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

revitalization. The next step should be permitting vehicles on Willamette between 8th and 10th. e Betty Sobol, 3572 Black Oak, said she enjoyed the slides Mr. Miles showed of Wi 1 lamette Street in the past. She read from an article in The Register-Guard of July 9, 1987, that quoted Mr. Miles as saying that streets are important to cities. She asked if the quote was correct. Ms. Sobol discussed Paris, France, and said its boulevards are like parks but its streets are not. She discussed the Quincy Market in Boston where automobile traffic is banned. She said the central plaza in Eugene should not be destroyed. Charles Porter, 96 East Broadway, sai d most Eugeneans oppose permitting vehicles on Willamette between 8th and 10th. If most of the councilors think differently, the issue should be put to the voters to prevent a referendum. He said private investment could be stimulated more by other improvements indicated on page 7 of the Urban Renewal Plan Update. Mr. Porter said the small fountains and rocks on West Broadway should be saved and put back; the central fountain should be replaced with a graceful fountain that is underground so it can be covered for some events; the renewal district should be expanded to include Skinner Butte so a landscaped tra il , a restaurant, and a museum can be constructed on Skinner Butte; the renewal district should be expanded south and east to include the proPQsed Emerald Canal; and a historic marker describing the origin of Eugene should be placed on the ma 11 . e Arlene Haislip, 381 Heritage Oaks, said she is president of The Green Pepper, Inc. She said all affected groups should be consulted before changes are made in the downtown. She said some Downtown Commissioners seem to feel that only a small group of property owners should make decisions about the downtown. Ms. Haislip said the Eugene Downtown Association(EDA) is composed of merchants, professionals, and building owners who pay a tax that is used for downtown marketing, free parking, and the salaries of some Development Department staff. She said EDA representatives were told recently that Rob Bennett was trying to get a group of property owners together who would assume responsibility for marketing the downtown. EDA representatives were told the EDA would not be responsible for downtown marketing or the expenditure of the business tax when Mr. Bennett's group is formed. She said one interest group should not make major decisions about the downtown. Ms. Haislip said the diversity of people in Eugene makes change difficult but it also makes Eugene a unique and wonderful place to live. She read her testimony and then submitted it in wri t i ng . She also submitted several petitions. She said they contained the names of 313 people who oppose and 70 people who favor opening Willamette to vehicles from 8th to 10th. Ed Dickson, 3921 Shasta View, wondered why consideration is being given to changing something that is attractive, working, and supported by most of the citizens. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1987 Page 9