04/09/1979 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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4. Allocate $135,700 for the construction of a "shell only" public green room space. e 5. Allocate $28,000 for the construction of a "shell only" kitchen space. 6. Allocate $91,200 for the construction of a "shell only" future retail space. She said if the facility is going to be built in the manner the City has asked, it is going to be necessary to use some of the interest money from the bonds. She urged Council's approval so the project could proceed. e Dr. Robert Loomis, Chairman, Downtown Development Board, spoke for the retailers and people who shop, trade, and work in the downtown area. He noted these people had worked hard for passage of the bond issue. It was felt the Civic Center Project in the downtown area would help increase trade in the retail area. Also, the additional parking which would be provided by this facility was an added attraction. It was assumed at the time the bond issue was presented that there would be adequate parking built for use by employees during the day, and thus many wholeheartedly endorsed the project. He ~oted the downtown area was about 1,000 parking spaces short even before the Civic Center Project started. The bond issue was endorsed by these people because they were assured that 450 parking spaces would be included in that program. Since it has become obvious that everything wished for cannot be provided by the $18.5 million, parking was one of the first items to be cut back. It is now down to 225 spaces. They did not like that, but said they could live with it. Regarding the total parking situation, the Downtown Development Board did go on record as supporting the concept of 225 spaces. The Board has budgeted $156,000 for reinforcement footings below the structure in order to add two to three more floors for parking with the provision that the facility could be leased for employee parking during the day. In addition, he said the Board had budgeted $100,000 to find more ways to provide parking spaces, to find better enforcement solutions for the present parking system, and to encourage alternative modes of transpor- tation to the downtown area. He expressed concern to the Council that it not delete the parking structure as proposed in Recommendation 1 (3). Public hearing was opened. David Sherman, 3810 Watkins Lane, spoke in favor of the additional financial support by use of the interest from the bonds. He believed it to be in the best interest of the community and professional artists. Janet Johnston, 2555 Central Boulevard, represented the Eugene Symphony Association. The Association has supported the project and the bond issue. They felt an obligation to the community to keep the costs down, but they were unwilling to compromise the quality of the facility. They see this as an opportunity to build a very fine facility. Three recommendations were given: 1) that the investment interest from the . 4/9/79--5 1'16