02/11/1985 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Obie asked if the City will have to pay for a central plaza if the City wants a central plaza. Mr. Sanete1 said the matter had not been resolved. Mr. Schwartz said members of the subcommittee felt strongly that there should ~ be a public square for such things as the Eugene Celebration and another pub- lic space for such things as the Saturday Market. Both areas will be the City's responsibility to maintain and manage. Mr. Neustadter emphasized that the cost of the public spaces will be paid by the owners of small businesses if it is not paid by the City. The design of the project will determine the mix of merchants, and the greater the costs the greater the chance that businesses there now will have to move else- where. Mr. Miller pointed out that merchants in other parts of the mall might want the same amenities provided in the new development. Mr. LeBlanc suggested the council consider the impacts of the development on other parts of the mall because there is no guarantee the impacts will be fair. Mr. Schwartz said a good mall development will help surrounding businesses. Ms. Ehrman pointed out the project will take most of the mall. Mr. Obie said the peri- meter of the development will provide a different opportunity if traffic is increased and the new development is designed so that traffic must go by the perimeter locations. Replying to an inquiry from Ms. Wooten, Mr. Gleason described the results of similar developments in other cities. Ms. Bennett said downtown developments are evolving. Role models are difficult to find. Retail developments can provide a base to enhance office employment in the area. Mr. Owens said some developments complement the surrounding areas and some developments create ghettos in the surrounding area. Visual and physical barriers that impede the traffic flow from the development to the surrounding area will have an impact on the surrounding area. The developer will want people to stay within the development. Mr. Neustadter emphasized the importance of maintaining a schedule for the development. Retailers will not make changes until they know what the City and the developer are going to do. Nothing will change downtown until deci- sions about the proposed development are made. Replying to questions from Mr. Rutan, Mr. Schwartz said the developer could pullout of the project at any time. Ms. Stewart said the developer will lose the deposit only if the developer does not do such required things as the analysis and the conceptual plan. Ms. Ehrman asked about the proposed tenants. Ms. Stewart said the developer will not publicize the names of prospective tenants until a binding commit- ment has been made. The council will approve a preliminary agreement, a revised site plan, a revised concept plan in April, and a financing package in July. The urban renewal plan must be revised by the council to accom- modate the development. When the council approves the development agreement, the project will no longer be a conceptual one. MINUTES--Eugene City Council Work Session February 11, 1985 Page 4 e -