12/02/1987 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Schue said she thought the counci 1 generally agreed with plans for development to the east, and although increased use of the EPAC garage was a e laudable goal, she had reservations about the 1 ength of the wa i t until development had occurred to the west. Mr. Byrne said staff was reluctant to predict timing of development, but it did feel that development would happen faster if the renewal agency took an active role. Mayor Obie asked about opportunities to lease part of the EPAC garage. Mr. Byrne said heavy marketing for the facility had been done, and the number of monthly parkers had increased from 20 to about 150, but the market did not provide enough demand. Mr. Miller said he would prefer not to have a parking garage dictate the vision of the renewal plan. He said he had heard suggestions about improving the She 1 ton-McMurphy House, tyi ng Skinner Butte to downtown, connecting downtown to the river at the EWEB plaza, and establishing corridors along 5th Avenue and Willamette Street. He noted that expansion did not have to occur all at once, and he preferred to retain as many options as possible. Mr. Hibschman said additional future amendments would require findings of blight and public process, which could take three to four months. Mr. Byrne said formation of a new district also was a possibility, and he noted the need to consider start-up costs. Mayor Obie said he found the EWEB building to be a major factor, and he asked about the Agri pac property. Mr. Byrne said Agripac was included in the Ri verfront di stri ct. Mayor Obi e expressed concern about the impacts of Agripac and Ferry Street Bridge on that part of downtown. He also requested that the Downtown Commission consider inclusion of the area near the train e station and the Shelton-McMurphy house. He added that he found development in the area to be interesting and viable. Ms. Bascom asked whether any areas had emerged as potential sites for housing development. Mr. Hibschman said one site, the parking lot off 10th Avenue and behind a church, had been considered, but that site had been dropped from the expansion. Ms. Bascom said she thought sites in the western area might be appropriate for housing. Ms. Schue said parking was a difficulty with housing developments, and she added that further difficulties existed with allowing residential parking in the EPAC garage. She also said housing for seniors might be developed without the parking needs, and projects in that area had been completed. Mr. Hibschman reviewed plans for property in the proposed expansion area, noting areas for sale, those whose owners opposed inclusion, those with little or no plans, and the remainder, whose owners favored more development. Ms. Bascom asked whether a housing development for elderly, middle-income res i dents woul d gain many advantages by bei ng included in the renewal district. Mr. Hibschman said he did not think inclusion would be a significant advantage, either to residents or to the renewal agency, because deve 1 opments tended to be less intensive. Mayor Obi e noted that a tax advantage district had been established to the west of downtown and included Washington Abbey and other housing developments. Planning Consultant Robin Johnson said the City had not readopted that program but could do so again. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council December 2, 1987 Page 10 - -..: