Item B: Downtown Projects - Tools

Home Browse Search

The Eugene Redevelopment Advisory Committee (ERAC) has met several times over the past few months. On January 28, ERAC considered the projects and supported a priority ranking of LCC, Business Assistance & Housing, VA Clinic, and Safety, as the top four projects. Staff also presented the projects to the Sustainability Commission on January 20 and attended the January 21 Downtown Neighborhood Association meeting to provide an update on council’s progress. Lastly, the www.vibranteugene.org website has project descriptions and opportunities to provide feedback through an online community discussion board. As of February 1, the site had 494 visitors. The Vibrant Eugene discussion board (available since December 30) has 8 discussion topics posted for community input. At the January 11 work session, the council reviewed funding options related to seven projects that were identified based on council’s downtown collective statements and strategies; public input mentioned above; and City planning documents. A diagram of the four strategy areas and the projects are provided in Attachment C. Based on the council’s feedback, the City Manager has developed a recommendation for funding a package of downtown projects (described in more detail below). The projects included in the City Manager’s recommendation are aimed at sparking increased private investment in our community, creating new jobs, and benefiting the entire community by helping create a vibrant and safe downtown. The projects support a sustainable local economy by focusing on local business, energy efficiency, local job training, and local food production. Recommended Downtown Revitalization Projects & Funding Sources Below is a short description of each project, the funding recommendation, and the estimated amount. Project #1 Safety What: The Downtown Safety Initiative approved by the council on January 27, 2010. Funding Recommendation: The City Manager is recommending that this initiative be funded by a combination of a reprioritization of existing dollars; partnerships with DEI, the Chamber of Commerce and other downtown entities; assessing vacant properties within the downtown service district (DSD) the same DSD fees that occupied properties pay; and using urban renewal to pay debt service on the Broadway/Charnelton parking garages, thereby allowing the funds previously used for that debt service to pay for part of the downtown safety initiative. See Attachment D for more details. How Much: $2.1 million per year and$200,000 one-time. Project #2 Lane Community College New Downtown Center th What: Help LCC build a new facility on the 10 and Charnelton Development Site, with potential space for a public safety station and community/open space. Funding Recommendation: Urban Renewal. How Much:$8 million, contingent on LCC’s demonstrated need following their pursuit of additional funds. Project #3 Veterans Affairs Clinic What: Assist PeaceHealth in making the Willamette Street site a competitive site for VA relocation. Funding Recommendation: Urban Renewal. How Much: To be determined at a later date with partners.