02/08/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Jim Luckman, The Luckman Partnership, gave a brief review for Council of the study from beginning to its present concept of scheme No.7. He said the scheme only explains from a planning standpoint how the ~ concepts and elements could be placed on the site and what the bulk .... relationship might be in the design concepts. His staff could be pre- paring a rendered plan which would show where the elements would go and what it would actually look like. This would be done without addi- tional costs to the City and they would explain it to various groups. He noted one major change had been in the reduction of total gross footage from 66,000 to 47,000 in the convention hall. It was felt there was not a need for any more than 30,000 square feet for an exhibit hall as Lane County Fairgrounds was going to provide a much larger exhibit hall. He al so poi nted out what he termed "free form rooms", noti n9 the ERA study had shown the Eugene community demanded usage for informal meeting rooms and it was felt that these should be designed as relating to the outdoors. In answering a question from Ms. Smith regarding the height of the hotel, Mr. Luckman said it would be about 12 to 14 stories high. However, he noted that it could be shorter than a 12-story office building structure as story heights for office buildings are higher than for hotels. Mr. Lieuallen felt that Willamette Street was a very important element to the community, noting that it had traditionally been a north-south access and visually open to allow sight of both buttes. He felt that it should be kept open. It was general consensus of Council that Willamette Street should be kept visually open. Mr. Williams asked Mr. Luckman whether the proposed scheme No.7 would work better if Willamette Street were left as it is. Mr. Luckman said a traffic study was needed before much further planning could develop. 4It He said one problem existed in that both Oak and Olive streets were one- way streets going the same way. There are plans for 435 parking spaces underground for the facility. However, it's the feeling of the architects that if Willamette Street were closed, it should not be blocked. From an operational standpoint, he said it may not make any difference. His own feeling was that the street should be left open, but noted that could change after the traffic study is completed. Mr. Anderson noted the Commission felt Willamette Street was visually important and also very very important that it be kept open. Mr. Lieuallen cautioned Council that it should keep in mind that the pictures it was looking at would not be what the actual project will look like. He said there was a need to allow for the possibility of a hotel development through a flexible design, but not to assume there will be a hotel. He questioned whether or not the entire project had to be placed on the two blocks, and asked Mr. Poticha to express his feelings on this matter. Mr. Poticha said whether or not a hotel is located in the complex, the real issue is a sense of compactness. It is the hope of the architects to make the best use of the urban land by making the facilities as compact as. possible through the most effective land use. Mr. Lieuallen asked for clarification as to what the City Council was being asked to do. Mr. Anderson replied that the critical issue at this point regarded Willamette Street as this was vital to the architect's - 2/8/78--4 1t