Item B:Ordinance on EWEB Downtown Riverfront Property

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FLOCK Gabriel From: Ward Beck <wbeckjr @msn.com> Sent: Friday, June 21, 2013 12:28 PM To: FLOCK Gabriel Cc: *Eugene Mayor, City Council, and City Manager; RUIZ Jon R Subject: In opposition to River Front Master Plan Gabe Please see that these thoughts are included in the Riverfront Master Plan submissions. I am a Eugene commercial real estate broker and developer. I live on Spyglass Drive in the Ferry Street neighborhood. I have the additional advantage of having worked closely with a large international developer who expressed interest in developing the EWEB river front property. First, I support the full development of the property and all of the restrictions that are /will be required to protect the Willamette River. This was equally true of the developer I worked with. Now for the problems. 1. The plan is very prescriptive. Keep the public /Willamette River protection portion of the plan but let the rest of the plan be a recommendation, not a detailed "this is the only way" plan. This is especially true of road locations. 2. I know that no economic analysis was done as part of the plan. There is now plenty of information for the current plan to be scoped out in terms of cost and then compared to what rents would be required. We have spent much time and money, the extra 6 months it might take to see if there is any financial viability in how this plan is presently written would be worth the delay. 3. The memorandum of understanding with its 5 year city option must be gone if developers are to be attracted. I agree with former EWEB commissioner Bishop on this point. 4. The heigth restrictions presently in effect for the EWEB property West of the viaduct need to be removed. Downtown should flow to the river. Allowing no high rise /high density development in that area due to the Skinner Butte view protection will result in a poor transition between the present downtown and the developments that occurs East of the viaduct. As you know I have brought up these concerns before but have had no success in anyone listening. One last try. The current version of the plan will either result in no develpment or even worse, EWEB selling off a few parcels that will insure that no major developer will be interested in doing a world class project. The City Council should send this back to EWEB for a full financial feasibly analysis. Thank you