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STRONG REGIONAL CENTER Downtown is the premier location for major commercial, governmental and cultural activities for Eugene, Lane County and the southern Willamette Valley. Downtown has the largest concentration of employment in the region, with thousands of employees in the city center five days a week. Downtown Eugene is home to municipal, county, state, federal and other professional offices patronized by citizens from all comers of the metropolitan area. Most of the region's financial institutions are headquartered downtown, with branches located throughout the city. Major activity centers are located just outside of the downtown core, including the University of Oregon and the Lane Events Center at the Fairgrounds. Both are easily accessible by foot, bike, public transit or car from downtown. Land use policies, as well as technology, transportation infrastructure and other critical services are in place to strengthen and expand the role of downtown Eugene as the regional center. Commercial Activities Downtown Eugene has historically served as the business center in the Eugene- Springfield metropolitan area. Like many other cities, downtown Eugene has evolved from an economic center of industrial uses and anchor retail stores to a center for professional and government services. Approximately 15,000 people work in the downtown area. Over the past twenty years, downtown employment and the volume of downtown office space has increased dramatically. The majority of all office space in Eugene is currently located downtown. Commercially zoned properties in downtown Eugene have some of the highest land values in the metro area. Commercial activities benefit from the central location and the concentration of other business and government activities in the downtown core. Downtown office buildings in particular are among the highest value development in the region, strengthening the economic base for downtown. Dense commercial office development generates significant employment opportunities and pedestrian activity, which in turn supports retail, restaurants, cultural and entertainment venues. Civic Center Downtown is both a regional center, and the civic center of our community. Public offices belong downtown, including state, federal and local institutions, as well as non- profit organizations. The new library, relocated to the downtown core from its previous location south of 13th Avenue, is the pride of the entire community. City Hall, the Lane County Courthouse, and the new Federal Courthouse are all located on 8th Avenue. Other uses such as existing and future downtown fire stations, +~'~ C-emer;, the downtown LTD Eugene Station and numerous state and federal offices 8