10/23/1985 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e parking structure between the office building and the Ferry Street Bri dge ramps. Both of these alternatives provide for the maximum possible integration of utility operations and utility administration on the current site. Because of the site I s size, it wi 11 not be possible to accomodate all of EWES's storage needs on-site and EWEB wi 11 be stori ng 1 ess frequently used items off-site. This compromise on total operation/administration integration results from the previously mentioned decision by the University to retain ownership of land currently used by EWES for storage of transformers and other construction materials. IV. EWEB Master Plan Issues Correspondence from the Downtown Commission and the Planning Commission examines the EWES Master Plan Draft as it relates to four separate issues: 1. The office location decision and its impact on riverfront development; EWES has expressed a preference for locating its proposed office building on the riverfront at the east end of 4th Avenue and both commtssions supported that preferenc~. This alternative provides an opportunity for the .offi ce building to help define the space for a major public plaza where 4th Avenue . meets the river. A ri verfront plaza in this 1 oca t i on will ma ke a major contribution to the city's efforts in strengthening the city's relationship to the river and the river's role as an asset in the downtown area. If the 4th . and High Street office location were chosen, the draft plan calls for extensive parking ar.eas along the river. 2. Site constraints and the impact of EWES's parking needs on the commercial vitality of the 4th and High Street area. The future of the Midgleys building and its contribution to commercial act i vity at Fourth and High has been identified as an issue by both commissions as well as by the owner of vacant property on the north side of 4th Avenue. Under the preferred alternative, the draft plan calls for re~lacing this structure with surface parking at this time, or with structured parking, when the parking needs increase sufficiently to warrant the cost of going to a second level. The draft plan proposes an approximately 30 foot wide area of sidewalk, landscaping and screening to soften the effect of the parking lot along High Street and 4th Avenue, a s we 11 as the effect of on-site storage along High Street. .Soth commissions have commented on the importance of Midgleys to the area and have also asked that consideration be gi ven to incorporating ground floor retail into any structured parking developed on the site. 3. Site constraints and the impact of EWEB's operational needs on. the historic Eugene Mill and Elevator Building; and Because of the constrained size of the site, EWES has indicated the need to e pursue moving or demolition of this city landmark. Letters from the two 2