Item A: Downtown Update - East Broadway Development Project

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There was a suggestion at the February 13 City Council meeting that the relative shares of Urban Renewal Agency and City contribution might be reconfigured to provide the URA with more flexibility to conduct future projects. If that approach were chosen, the City could take more funds from the Facility Reserve, and the agency could borrow less. While this strategy would allow the agency the ability to work on unspecified future projects, it could also reduce funds available for future projects, including the City Hall project, depending on the speed with which the Urban Renewal Agency is able to reimburse the City. Timing Prompt action is recommended. GED and B & H are ready to move forward immediately based on timelines established with Whole Foods. RELATED CITY POLICIES This project addresses implementation strategies and policies from the Downtown Plan, the Growth Management Policies and the Goals and Objectives from the Riverfront Urban Renewal District Plan. This project does not directly address or affect council goals or priorities. Relevant Downtown Plan policies include the following: Downtown development shall support the urban qualities of density, vitality, livability and ? diversity to create a downtown, urban environment. Actively pursue public/private development opportunities to achieve the vision for an active, ? vital, growing downtown. Facilitate dense development in the Courthouse area and other sites between the core of ? downtown and the river. The Downtown Plan policies emphasize downtown Eugene as a strong regional center, and a diverse, dense, economically strong urban center. The proposed Whole Foods Development Project addresses these policies as a higher density, pedestrian-oriented, public/private redevelopment project in the area of the Wayne Morse Federal Courthouse. The following project is listed in the Downtown Plan as an example of a possible action to address the Implementation Strategies in the plan: Construct a new parking garage to support the east side of downtown and the new ? Courthouse district. Relevant Growth Management Policies include the following: Policy 1 Support the existing Eugene Urban Growth Boundary by taking actions to increase density and use existing vacant land and under-used land within the boundary more efficiently. Policy 2 Encourage in-fill, mixed-use, redevelopment, and higher density development. Policy 3 Encourage a mix of businesses and residential uses downtown using incentives and zoning. The Whole Foods Development project is consistent with the Goals and Objectives of the Riverfront Urban Renewal District Plan, in particular the following: 4. To stimulate development activity and amenities near the new federal courthouse. L:\CMO\2006 Council Agendas\M060315\S060315A.doc