04/12/1989 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

e Mr. Hibschman reviewed the options council has with regard to update of the renewal plan. These include: create a new renewal district to include all the property north of 6th Avenue and expand the renewal district to only include the property south of 6th Avenue; create a new renewal district; expand the district, staying within the 20 percent limit; create an assessment district to address parking and other needs in the area; not expand at this time. Mayor Miller asked whether the City could achieve the type of development it desires in the downtown core without the urban renewal district. Mr, Gleason shared examples from cities which do and do not have urban renewal districts, He said cities without such a district still get private development, but they do not get the type of development which makes a city "user friendly" (e,g" park blocks, parking programs, light rail systems), The only way to induce this extra public development in the absence of a renewal district is to rely on property taxes. Mr. Farkas added that cities without renewal districts are often characterized by urban sprawl as well. Mr. Hibschman said the City presently has approximately $4 million in renewal resources, Of this total, $1.5 million will probably be committed to the development at 8th Avenue and Willamette Street, and $1 million will be committed to the development at 11th Avenue and Willamette Street. Both development sites will require site improvements, which combined are expected to total approximately $,7 million. Mr. Hibschman noted that changes to Olive Street have not been included in the estimate for site expenditures. Finally, $.8 million may be committed to the rehabilitation of existing buildings in the downtown core and/or used as leverage for development on the remaining sites owned by the ERA, e Mr. Hibschman said once the projects at 8th Avenue and Willamette Street and 11th Avenue and Willamette Street are operating (in two to three years), the City will be in the $7 million to $8 million bonding capacity range. At that time, the City will be in a much stronger position to undertake some public projects, Mr. Farkas said the City is working with the County to try to secure County road funds for the redesign of Olive Street, He said in order to secure the monies, the City would have to demonstrate that the street improvements would help create jobs; this criterion is met by the Pankow development which is expected to generate between 150 to 200 new jobs over time. In addition, the City must demonstrate that it does not have other available resources to use for the redesign. Mr. Bennett emphasized that a number of businesses on the mall that front on Willamette Street are moving and buildings are empty, He stressed that when the City is deciding how to allocate its remaining resources, these conditions should be considered along with all the other issues. Mr. Bennett added that the proposed Pankow and St, Laurent developments will not help revitalize the core area of the mall surrounding the fountain. He felt reopening Willamette Street would help this area and that the community may be willing to reconsider access when the situation on the mall gets worse. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council April 12, 1989 Page 5 ~