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<br /> redevelopment, the Wayne Morse Federal Courthouse, the Park Blocks, Whole Foods, and the various smaller private investments in the Courthouse District. Staff are exploring the process of reintroducing two-way traffic on 8th Avenue, in addition to other design changes to create a street that is comfortable for walking and biking between downtown and the river. <br /> <br />Franklin Boulevard Area Improvements: In early 2019, the City began the Franklin Boulevard Transformation project. This planning process is redesigning Franklin Boulevard to be more supportive of the vision of the Walnut Station Specific Area Plan that calls for a compact walkable mixed-use neighborhood along Franklin Boulevard from Onyx Street to Walnut Street. The Franklin Boulevard Transformation will lead to a more multimodal street design that makes it safer and more comfortable to walk and bike along and across Franklin and to more sections of Franklin Boulevard that have one EmX lane in each direction. Overhead utilities are a major barrier to the redevelopment of properties along the north side of Franklin Boulevard. Nearly all of the buildings along this side of Franklin are one story but the Walnut Station plan calls for multistory buildings built up to the right of way line. This is not possible when there are overhead electric utilities because of required setbacks from the electric lines. Placing these utilities underground will address this obstacle. Unfortunately, the federal transportation funds that the City will pursue in order to rebuild Franklin cannot necessarily be spent to underground these utilities. Although the Franklin right of way is outside of the urban renewal district, undergrounding these utilities will directly benefit the properties that are in the Riverfront Urban Renewal District which may make this expenditure eligible for urban renewal funding. Furthermore, a component of this utility relocation will be on the individual properties which are within the urban renewal district. <br /> <br />Mill Race Partnership: With the development of the Knight Science Campus, the University of Oregon has focused on enhancing a portion of the historic waterway. The University’s current plan will focus on bank restoration, erosion prevention, and enhancing water quality and habitat for fish, amphibians, and birds. The Agency has an opportunity to support and expand this work. <br />City ¼-Block on the southeast corner of 8th & Pearl: The City owns and manages a surface lot at the southeast corner of 8th Avenue and Pearl Street. The Downtown Plan identifies this block as a Development Opportunity Area. As development occurs around the site (the County Courthouse directly across the street and the Town Square and City Hall less than one block away) there will be an opportunity to reimagine this parking lot into a use that meets broader community goals. <br />Broadway & Hilyard Remnant: Following Council direction, the City completed an RFP process to find a buyer for the City owned remnant to provide a distinctive urban vision to generate positive activity in this urban downtown setting and complement recent investment in the Courthouse District. Albeit small, the property is prominently located on a key urban corner in close proximity to the southern entrance to the Downtown Riverfront development making it a redevelopment opportunity. A proposal has been selected and deal points are being developed. The City has been working with the <br />October 28, 2019, Work Session – Item 2