Item 1: Ordinance on EWEB Downtown Riverfront Property

Home Browse Search

EWEB DOWNTOWN RIVERFRONT LAND USE COMPONENTS 3.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS 3.1 Site Context The EWEB Downtown Riverfront site is comprised of 21 parcels totaling 27.06 acres in size. As shown on Sheet C1 Cover Sheet (Exhibit G Plan Set), the subject site contains 22.76 acres of developed land and 4.30 acres of open space. The subject site is located adjacent to the th Willamette River, the Eugene Downtown Core area, and the 5 Street Market commercial corridor. Across the Willamette River from the subject site is Alton Baker Park, the city’s largest metropolitan park. Further upstream is the University of Oregon’s Riverfront Research Park. To the south of the th subject site, across E. 6 Avenue, is the U.S. Federal Courthouse. Skinners Butte is located approximately ¼ mile to the northwest. The Union Pacific railroad corridor forms the southwestern boundary of the subject site. The rail corridor is the primary passenger and freight rail line serving the Eugene-Springfield Metropolitan th area. Eugene station is located approximately ¼-mile west of the intersection of 4 Avenue and High Street, the northwest corner of the subject site. The Ruth Bascom Riverfront Trail stretches along the west bank of the Willamette River within the project boundaries. Ferry Street Bridge, located north of the subject site, is a significant transportation arterial and primary vehicular route across the Willamette River. The Peter Defazio Bridge, located north of the subject site, is a primary pedestrian and bicycle route across the Willamette River from Downtown Eugene to Alton Baker Park, Autzen Stadium, and beyond. The EWEB Riverfront site is located within the heart of Downtown Eugene and in proximity to many defining natural, cultural, and economic amenities. The subject property is isolated from the rest of the city by the railroad corridor and elevated Ferry Street Viaduct. Establishing new and clearly identifiable street and pedestrian connections to the riverfront are of great importance in order to realize the community benefits of this civic and natural-resource amenity. 3.2 Site History The EWEB Downtown Riverfront site housed community water facilities prior to 1900. However, EWEB’s history and its history on the subject property can be traced to an event in 1906. Privately owned companies originally provided water and electric service to the citizens of Eugene. Following increasing prices and a typhoid outbreak in 1906, actions were initiated to revise the City Charter and state legislation to allow for public ownership of water, electric, and sewer service. On November 18, 1908 the City Council purchased the private domestic water system and on March 11, 1911 the Eugene Water Board was formed. The utility’s name was later changed to Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) to reflect the provision of electrical service. The facilities purchased in 1908 were housed on the east side of the subject site where the Willamette Substation is today. As Eugene grew, more land was purchased downstream which facilitated construction of the Steam Plant in 1931 and the McClain Filter Plant in 1934. As growth continued, EWEB purchased additional surrounding properties and added new facilities, including th the first onsite headquarters building in 1949. In 1988 four parcels north of 4 Avenue and west of Mill Street were purchased, which were the last parcels EWEB purchased for the Downtown Riverfront site. Construction of EWEB’s current administrative headquarters was completed in 1988. 3.3 Existing Structures The subject property contains several existing structures including the 100,000 square foot (sf) EWEB Headquarters Building, the 49,000sf Operations Warehouse, the 28,000sf Steam Plant, the Cameron McCarthy FINAL SUBMITTAL | December 5, 2012 {00091176;1 }