Item 5: Public Hearing on Ordinance Establishing Chambers Special Area Zone

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NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT Traditional neighborhoods are usually found no more than a mile or two from the centers of older downtowns. Some of the neighborhoods that we now consider "close- in" were originally considered to be in outlying areas. An example in Eugene is the area just east of the University of Oregon. This was considered far enough from downtown in the early 1900's that some well-off families had a "summer" house near the University so they could be free from the bustle, dirt, and smells of early 20th- century downtown Eugene. Most neighborhoods that we now consider traditional are located within easy walking distance of downtown. The ETN is about a 20-minute walk from Chambers Street, located at the western edge of the ETN to Willamette Street. Walkable commercial areas are another key feature of traditional neighborhoods. Blair Street is a vital commercial place for many ETN residents. It is a close by place with true neighborhood commercial character, including restaurants, shops, and services. Blair Street has a funkiness and diversity that give it a clear identity, and make it a place that draws people. The commercial areas within the Chambers Study Area do not exhibit this same quality, but could in the future with carefully considered development. Parks and open space are limited in the immediate vicinity of the ETN. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park is a small park west of Chambers, and Monroe Park is a larger neighborhood park to the east. For larger expanses of greenspace, ETN residents need to go south to the school grounds and park areas from 13th to 18th Avenues east of Chambers, or to the parks along the Willamette River in the Whiteaker Neighborhood. r Ii Blair Street cuts through the Whiteaker Neighborhood and part of the Jefferson Westside Neighborhood at an angle creating unique block shapes. It is one of the most vibrant and eclectic neighborhood commercial areas in Eugene; many people in the ETN think of this as their neighborhood commercial area. Monroe Park is east of the ETN but it serves as a strong landmark and important open space to residents further to the west in the ETN. The park has had a difficult history, but in recent years the neighborhood and the City of Eugene have worked hard to make this a model neighborhood park enjoyed by everyone. II