07/19/1989 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e building has already received preliminary determination of its eligibility from the State. Ms. Ehrman pointed out that approval of a project may improve its chances of receiving grant and foundation funding. Ms. Bascom requested additional information about the child care component of the Friends of Lincoln School proposal. Rhonda Budd, Friends of Lincoln School representative, said approximately 60 children between the ages of 3 months and school age would be served by the child-care facility. An additional 36 children would be enrolled in Head Start. Mr. Bennett noted that he had advocated actively for preservation of the building. He call~d the council's attention to its original policy direction that City financial involvement was to be avoided. While he considered both proposals significant, he said only the Lorig proposal met that original policy direction. Mr. Bennett described historical building redevelopment as a complex undertaking that requires sound business planning to be economically successful. He considered the Friends of Lincoln School proposal an admirable attempt to address some of the community's basic needs, but said that its support would require the council to change its policy and to provide financial support of the project. He maintained that relying on grants for annual support is an unstable financial plan. Ms. Bascom expressed her support of the Friends of Lincoln School's desire to address community concerns and pledged that she would continue working on the e unmet child care needs of the community. She described her experiences teaching in Chicago in the 1940s and suggested that child care may be delivered more effectively in a smaller facility. Ms. Bascom pointed out that the Lorig proposal would help meet the council's goal of encouraging development and/or availability of low- to moderate-cost housing. She suggested requiring Lorig to construct and landscape a playground for public access to be maintained by the City. She also recommended exploring the possibility of incorporating a small child-care facility into the Lorig project. Referring to Mr. Bennett's comments on the council's policy goals as reflected in the RFP, Mr. Boles said that while the Lorig proposal may be superior in terms of development experience and ability to leverage private- sector financing, the Friends of Lincoln School proposal is stronger in the community access component which he considered an equally important council policy direction. He said that the provision of 600-square-foot units that rent for $420 per month does not meet the council's goal of providing low- and moderate-income housing. Recalling a visit to Hull House in Chicago, Mr. Holmer attested to the difficulty of maintaining such a facility. Saying he supported the idea of a project like that proposed by the Friends of Lincoln School,he favored delaying the council1s decision to allow the Friends to attempt to strengthen the financing component of its proposal. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 19, 1989 Page 5