04/01/1985 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

- e - Before discussing the revitalization of the Eugene downtown, Mr. Long presented the Downtown Plan to the councilors. He said the Eugene Agenda focuses on retail development in the downtown. Private investment in the project will be from $50 to $60 million. Public investment will be needed for public spaces and infrastructure. Destination point activities will be attracted by the development. Construction will take three to five years. The project will be financed with tax increment funds. Ms. Anderson said the critical projects in the surface transportation system which will serve the industrial areas of Eugene are the improvements to 6th and 7th avenues and the 6th/7th Extension from Garfield to West 11th Avenue, improvements to Roosevelt Boulevard, the improvement of Willow Creek Road from 11th to 18th avenues and the extension of Beltline to Willow Creek Road, improvements to Terry Street, construction of the Chambers Connector, and improvements to the Ferry Street Bridge. Excluding the Chambers Connector and the Ferry Street Bridge, the projects will cost about $33 million. Much of the cost will come from State funding. Ms. Brody discussed the entrance and community beautification program and the street tree planting and maintenance program. She said a study of the surface, air, and rail entrances to Eugene will recommend short- and long-term projects. The tree planting and maintenance project will be directed by the Mayor's Tree Commission. Entrance beautifiction can be accomplished in conjunction with the transportation improvement projects. Mayor Obie opened the public hearing. Carroll Fentress, 3883 Blanton Road, is a member of the Performing Arts Commission and chairman of the Crest Drive Neighborhood Association, but he was speaking for himself. He emphasized the importance of the improvement and expansion of the airport terminal and airline services and the construction of the Riverfront University Science Park. He said they are needed to attract clean industries to Eugene. Airfares that are compatible with those from and to other west coast cities are also vital. Poor air transportation handicaps the operation of the Hu1t Center because groups find it difficult to get here. Support of the Riverfront University Science Park recognizes the importance of the University of Oregon and its world-renown scientists, Mr. Fentress said. The park will bring more scientists, conferences, and prestige to Eugene, and they will benefit the Hult Center. Council actions that enhance the attractiveness of Eugene benefit every citizen. He supported all of the Eugene Agenda. Betsy Brown, 665 West 5th Avenue #4, is a reporter for Women's Press and has researched Eugene's economic development plans. She had reservations about the Riverfront University Science Park. She said the high tech industry is not clean or safe and will not revitalize Eugene's economy in the long term. She indicated that development of computers has been spurred by the need for sophisticated weapons. In Santa Clara county in California, there are nineteen sites proposed for clean-up by the Environmental Protection Agency's super fund. The sites result from chemical leakage from the manufacture of computer parts. MINUTES-Eugene City Council April 1, 1985 Page 2