04/09/1979 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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1(4) regarding bond issue sale be used to cover additional costs over the $18.5 million; 2) at the very least, the rehearsal hall be "shelled in" as it is a very real need; 3) if a choice has to be made between theater and parking, the Association-recommends the theater complex take 4IIJ priority over parking. She expressed appreciation to the Civic Center Commission for its time and efforts, and urged the Council to act with dispatch this evening to make the facility a reality. Ann Hicks, 2635 Chuckanut, spoke as a downtown employee. She said the City has accomplished a great deal to bring many people downtown. However, employee parking is an extremely difficult situation. Parking provided by the project during the day would alleviate some of the prob- lem, and she felt it to be a marvelous idea. She thus supported the parking recommendation, and requested it not be cut. Carol Wood, 2585 Olive, was concerned that a short-sighted approach might be taken regarding use of the additional interest money for the project. She saw use of the interest money as a good investment. She spoke in favor of development of the cultural resources as a way to make the area economically viable, ecologically and environmentally sound. She favored use of the interest money to promote the major cultural attractions. Gil Fuchs, 4395 Pinecrest, President of the Eugene Downtown Associa- tion, said his group had worked hard to get the bond issue passed because 450 parking spaces were promised. He said parking was a vital interest to all who worked downtown, and to those who supported the bond issue. They could compromise and support use of the interest money to finance the project. However, the group would not compromise on not having at least 225 parking spaces. Otto Poticha, 1820 Kona Street, had been an active supporter of the Civic Center Project, and supported moving ahead with the Project at this time. He said the community has done a great deal to get it to this point by voting for the bond issue in support of the project. He sees this as a vital and important facility for the community. As far as the parking in the downtown area was concerned, he said he could not remember any time that Eugene has had enough parking, and he felt there probably never would be a time when Eugene would have enough parking in the downtown area. He suggested the Council go on record as being committed to the 250 spaces for parking. He suggested the parking structure could be built at a late stage in the project. He felt uncomfortable with Recommendation vacation of Willamette Street. He argued against accepting this particular recommendation because he felt it had not been adequately discussed under the new schematics and noted that it had been changed from the original master plan. e Frank Geltner, 5205 Nectar Way, supported the project and noted the 15 years of work in the past on the part of the Lane County Auditorium Association. He believed the core of the project is the large hall, and expressed concern that the number of seats was reduced. He was not as concerned that the price was rising. He 4/9/79--6 . \ql