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our community and the architectural heritage that characterizes Eugene. They deserve recognition through informational plaques and walking tour brochures. Some of the historic crown jewels include the WPA-era post office and the McDonald Theater on Willamette Street, the Oregon Electric Station on 5th Avenue, and the Tiffany Building on 8th Avenue. The Historic Places map on page 49 indicates properties of historic interest downtown. Some of these properties have been designated as City Landmarks or as National Register properties; the remainder are older structures that reinforce the sense of history and the walkable character of downtown. New development needs to respect the quality of historic structures. It is not typically necessary to duplicate older buildings in terms of details or styles. Instead, new design must be sensitive to historic context and character, such as maintaining the same street orientation, setback or quality of materials. New buildings must preserve and capitalize on the value of historic structures. The City encourages listing of significant structures in the National Register of Historic Places or as City Landmarks. Historic preservation planning identifies resources that are traditionally over 50 years of age, so many modem era (1935-1965) resources are coming into their own for consideration as landmarks. Properties listed as historic are eligible for financial incentives and special consideration for flexibility within the land use code. Listing of historic structures increases our understanding of local history, people and places and helps preserve these properties for the future. Listing of historic structures requires consent of the property owner, public or private. Nearby Open Spaces Downtown is bordered by a wealth of extraordinary open spaces - Skinner Butte Park, Alton Baker Park, and the extended Willamette River Greenway park system. These places provide great views of the city or the fiver, and opportunities for outdoor recreation. Activities such as biking, canoeing, kayaking, even rock climbing and bird watching take place directly next to Eugene's commercial core. Eugene's unique community identity and quality of life are intricately bound to these nearby nature areas. These areas complement the urban experience downtown. They become even more critical as density and intensity of uses increase in the downtown core. These areas must be easily visible and accessible from many points downtown. They should be promoted as a key element in the marketability, economic viability and livability of downtown. Policies 1. Enhance public places throughout downtown through the careful design of civic buildings, streetscapes, parks and plazas. Include public art and other elements to create special places for all ages. 22