Oregon daily emerald., June 19, 1973, Image 1

Planners reject student bid
to save two older houses
By KATHLEEN GLANVILLE
Of the Emerald
Is the campus area doomed to be surrounded by
high-rise apartment buildings at the cost of older,
single family dwellings? This was one of the issues
raised last week when the Eugene Planning
Commission rejected an appeal by three University
students to deny a Conditional Use Permit to a
Eugene developer.
Frank Wail, former ASUO Housing director,
Lynn Shepard, and John Cubit appealed a decision
approved by the City Planning Office to build a
twenty-unit apartment complex on land now oc
cupied by two houses on Ferry Street between 11th
and 12th Avenues. The proposed construction by
J.S. Kuykendall would be similar to the existing
Kirkwood apartment building located at 12th and
Ferry.
The appellants described the proposed building
as “an obnoxious and cold structure, totally out of
scale and design with the surrounding neigh
borhood.”
The appellants raised issues concerning the
design of the building, traffic problems, and the
preservation of existing older housing. Wall em
phasized that students have long preferred houses
as opposed to multi-family apartment structures.
Although he conceded that it is inevitable that many
existing houses will be destroyed in the future and
replaced, Wall said that the transition should be
gradual and the structures torn down should be
replaced with developments of good quality.
The appellants asserted that the proposed
Kuykendall development did not appear to meet
any of their requirements.
The Planning Commission upheld the hearing
official in his decision to grant the Conditional Use
Permit, declaring that the students had no legal
grounds but they approved many points made by
the appellants.
“One of the things they dealt with in this appeal
and testimony was the design of the building,” said
Jim Saul, Planning Commission member, “Most of
us agreed; it was a lousy design.”
“The problem is the city, meaning the city
council and the Planning Commission, is somewhat
reluctant to enter design criticism. It is a subjective
area. For instance, the attorney representing the
builder tried to argue that the building was
beautiful—and a lot of people probably feel that
way.”
The district in which the proposed building is to
be located is zoned C-2, community commercial.
The Conditional Use Permit, required because of
the zoning, was never intended to regulate design,
according to Saul.
As to whether or not a citizens group could stop
construction of an objectionable building, Saul
explained that they probably could not... not on the
basis of design.
“Construction could be blocked only if they
could find something in the health, safety and
general welfare codes,” explained Saul, “There is a
very strong legal tradition established that you
cannot use zoning to achieve aesthetic con
siderations.
“The assumption in the Planned Unit
Development procedure is that the developer will be
interested in having a good design,” said Saul, “He
may be, but it’s normally a secondary factor; his
primary purpose is to make a profit.”
“The area between the University and the
downtown district has been designated appropriate
for high density living,” said Saul, “and the city has
had a policy of encouraging high-density
development in this area to accommodate the
housing need generated by the University of
Oregon.”
The appellants stated that they were concerned
about the “continuing destruction of neighborhoods,
especially when they are replaced by barren, motel
like complexes.”
You won’t be able to visit the elk and deer at Hen
dricks Park anymore. If you want to see them,
you’ll have to drive to the World Wildlife Safari in
Winston, Ore. The reason? Too much vandalism has
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Photo by Steve Twedt
caused the Eugene Park system to go out of the zoo
business. Most of the animals were transported to
their new home last week. The rest will be leaving
soon.
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Reynolds with time capsule treasure
Seal move yields
old *school sprit *
The construction crew working on the addition to the
EMU has uncovered a piece of the spirit of a bygone era at
the University.
When the workers dug the University seal from its place
in front of the EMU, they found a tin box, ravaged by Oregon
rains for the past 23 years, and full of the “school spirit” of
the Class of 1912.
The Class of 1912 bought and installed the seal from their
class funds. The seal was originally placed somewhere near
Villard Hall, but when the center of the campus moved, the
seal was also moved.
Members of the Class of 1912 were asked by postcard
ballot if they favored the move, and also if they were in favor
of “soliciting the Class for funds to pay for removing it to the
new site.” The ballots were placed in the tin box under the
seal.
Also in the box was a clipping from Old Oregon
magazine, so much deteriorated that the date is no longer on
it, but which is headlined, “Wish of Class of 1912 to be...with
moving of seal to new location.”
The seal was rededicated June 9,1950 at its new location.
The tin box even contained fragments of a telegram from one
member of the Class of 1912 who sent his regrets for not at
tending the rededication.
Dick Reynolds, director of the EMU, says the seal will be
moved to the courtyard created by the new addition to the
EMU. Reynolds says the opinions and contributions of the
Class of 1912 were not solicited for the current move.
Reynolds told the Emerald he does not know what he will
do with the tin box, but he may put it on display in one of the
EMU showcases sometime during the summer.