Item B:Ordinance on EWEB Downtown Riverfront Property

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Fro tKe PlCon:i flouxe built in 1911 2-35 Ea mot. Third. Avenue E�jqene, Of�on 974 Public testimony presented by Sherrill Necessary on June 17, 2013 Mayor and City Council Members, Thank you for the opportunity to tell you why I am in favor of the proposed ordinance for the land use code changes for the EWEB property. My husband and I live downtown in the neighborhood that Eugene Skinner platted for Skinner City — the East Skinner Butte Historic District. Some of the first residents of our neighborhood worked in the woolen, flouring and excelsior mills right near the EWEB property. For them the river provided power so that they could earn a living. Times have changed. The few industrial buildings that remain in the area have changed with the times through adaptive reuse and are now thriving restaurants and retail. Those buildings near High Street and 5th Avenue are hiding one of the best kept secrets in Eugene — access to the most scenic view of the Willamette River! The River Front Master Plan links that part of the river (and the amazing view) with the rest of downtown again. The plan includes areas to recreate, shop, eat and live. But this plan cannot be realized without changes to the current zoning. Zone changes would allow for mixed use housing and retail. For us, it increases the overall downtown population to get closer to that magic number that will attract more retail — we are hoping for a grocery store and a neighborhood -type hardware store. For you, it balances the demographics and adds middle income residents to downtown's existing student and senior populations. Development also means more revenue dollars. I urge you to approve the land use code ordinance so that the Willamette River can be made a part of Downtown Eugene — a great city for the arts and outdoors.