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Regarding the northern boundary of downtown, Mr. Meisner said that over his objections, the <br />committee refused to consider the srd/4th connector as the north boundary. He thought it a <br />mistake because the area was largely zoned mixed-use and was almost all in single ownership. <br />Mr. Meisner feared that in the absence of direction to the contrary, the area could develop in a <br />manner that could block access to Skinner Butte. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap~ acknowledged the departure of Symantec from downtown and called for a focus on that <br />area. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap~ expressed disappointment with the appearance of the Broadway Plaza and said the City <br />needed to look at how to design nice plazas that brought people out and together. He asked what <br />was being done in this area. Mr. Farmer responded that the vision discussed the downtown <br />"outdoor room" as being the Parks Blocks, as it had been historically, and antipated events would <br />be concentrated in that area. He said that Phase 2 should include a discussion of what use the <br />community envisioned for the Broadway Plaza, and what approach that involved. Mr. Farmer <br />noted interest in discussion of what was appropriate for gathering places along the river. In <br />response to a comment from Mr. Pap~ that he did not see much of what Mr. Farmer described in <br />the vision, Mr. Farmer said that element would be strengthened in the next phase. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap~ concurred with Mr. Meisner's remarks on the north boundary. He thought Skinner Butte <br />represented a natural downtown boundary. <br /> <br />Mr. Farmer noted the interest of merchants near Symantec in seeing the building the company <br />planned to vacate reoccupied soon. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor thought preserving the housing west of downtown was very important, and called for <br />the establishment of zoning districts that would encourage what the City wanted to see <br />encouraged and discourage unwanted development. She called for the provision of shelter for the <br />Farmers Market, at a minimum, so that produce could be sold year-round. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor did not find Broadway Plaza attractive. She thought the area had been attractive when <br />the fountain was in place and working and events such as plays were scheduled on the mall. She <br />did not want to open Broadway as a first step, saying the money that would require could be used <br />on other more important things. Ms. Taylor said she had suggested to Downtown Eugene, Inc., <br />that it honor a school each week and schedule young people's activities on the mall. Arts displays <br />could be set up and school musical groups could perform. Such events would draw both young <br />people and their parents. Ms. Taylor said she favored things that did not cost a lot of money. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor expressed concern about the impact on the river of the possible expansion of <br />downtown uses toward the river. She was also concerned that the development of other areas <br />away from downtown, including the river, could detract from downtown. <br /> <br />Ms. Taylor advocated for the return of free parking to downtown. She said that people would be <br />more likely to come downtown if they did not have to worry about a parking meter. <br /> <br />Regarding the opening of Broadway, Ms. Taylor said that Willamette Street had been reopened <br />and she found it still to be drab and vacant of tenants. <br /> <br /> MINUTE--Eugene City Council February 28, 2001 Page 3 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />