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Eugene City Council Work Session and
Eugene Urban Renewal Agency Meeting
Eugene, Oregon 97401
June 22, 2026
5:30 p.m.
Councilors Present: Eliza Kashinsky, Matt Keating, Alan Zelenka, Jennifer Yeh, Mike Clark, Greg
Evans, Lyndsie Leech, and Randy Groves
Mayor Kaarin Knudson opened the June 22, 2026, work session of the Eugene City Council in a
hybrid format at 500 E 4th Avenue, North Building, Eugene OR 97401.
1. EXECUTIVE SESSION: Pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(f)(exempt public records)
Mayor Knudson closed the June 22, 2026 work session of the Eugene City Council and convened
a meeting of the Eugene Urban Renewal Agency.
2. WORK SESSION:
A. 1059 Willamette Redevelopment-Financial Assistance
Agency Director Jenny Haruyama introduced Amanda D'Souza Development Programs
Manager, Anne Fifield, Economic Development Manager, and Will Dowdy, Community
Development Director, who provided an update on 1059 Willamette redevelopment
project.
Councilor Discussion:
■
■
Councilor Zelenka -noted housing and homelessness are the biggest problems
facing the city; stated homelessness is a symptom of the lack of affordable
housing and mental health programs; stated the city needs more affordable
housing; noted the 1059 Willamette project is unique because it combines
affordable housing with market-rate housing; noted no affordable housing is
built in the city without subsidies; noted there are not many affordable housing
projects built for households making 60 to 80 percent of area median income
(AMI); noted the affordable housing term for this project is 35 years instead of
the usual 20; stated he is in support of using Downtown Urban Renewal funds
for this project.
Councilor Groves -stated his support for this project; noted the project will pay
prevailing wage; asked about the private equity investment group involved;
noted the group is pushing for green construction and is taking a lower return
than other groups might; noted two of the city's biggest issues are housing and
homelessness; stated this project may incentivize other downtown investment;
noted it is not unusual for projects to start late and cost more in the current
business climate; noted it is a local developer.
MINUTES -Eugene City Council
Work Session
June 22, 2026 Page 1
• Councilor Keating -noted his support for this mixed-use affordable and market-
rate housing project built on a transit line in the heart of downtown; asked if
there is a project labor agreement (PLA) or community benefits agreement
requiring prevailing wage and responsible labor practices for Urban Renewal or
other City projects; asked about the Downtown Loan program; asked how long
the affordable units are guaranteed to be offered at reduced rates.
• Councilor Yeh -stated her support for the project; noted while the price tag has
increased, she believes this is a worthwhile project that reflects Eugene's
values; asked if staff needed direction on the loan financing.
• Councilor Kashinsky -noted the request for increased funding is coming at the
end of the process and the project will fail without it; asked about the possibility
of extending the term of the affordable housing requirement from 35 years;
asked why the funding increase was coming from the Urban Renewal emerging
projects bucket instead of the housing bucket; stated support for the project;
noted she looks forward to seeing what is learned from this mixed-use
affordable and market-rate housing pilot project.
• Councilor Clark -noted he had previously voted to expand the
Downtown Urban Renewal District to fund housing projects like 1059
Willamette; stated his support for the project; noted the project will
provide a strong community benefit.
MOTION: Councilor Leech, seconded by Councilor Kashinsky, moved to
approve the use of up to $8.66 million additional Downtown Urban
Renewal tax increment funds to support the 1059 Willamette project.
VOTE: 8:0 PASSED
IN FAVOR: Kashinsky, Keating, Zelenka, Yeh, Clark, Evans, Leech, and
Groves.
OPPOSED: None.
Mayor Knudson closed the June 22, 2026 meeting of the Eugene Urban Renewal
Agency and convened a work session of the Eugene City Council.
B. 1059 Willamette Redevelopment -Revised Terms
MOTION: Councilor Leech, seconded by Councilor Kashinsky, moved to
approve the revised terms shown in strikethrough and bold text in
Attachment A.
VOTE: 8:0 PASSED
IN FAVOR: Kashinsky, Keating, Zelenka, Yeh, Clark, Evans, Leech, and
Groves.
OPPOSED: None.
Council Discussion:
• Mayor Knudson -stated this project represents decades of work towards dense,
transit-oriented, urban housing built working with local teams; noted she is excited
to see the project move forward.
MINUTES -Eugene City Council
Work Session
June 22, 2026 Page 2
The meeting was adjourned at 6:53 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Katie LaSala
City Recorder
(Recorded by Cherish Bradshaw)
Link to the webcast of this City Council meeting here.
MINUTES -Eugene City Council
Work Session
June 22, 2026 Page 3