Bagley Downs housing ready for student families
■ APARTMENTS: The 30
renovated units were spared
from the demolition of
Amazon housing
By Kristin Bailey
Associate Editor
In a show of community spirit,
the City of Eugene, St. Vincent de
Paul and the University unveiled
the 30 newly-renovated apart
ments at Bagley Downs Tuesday
afternoon.
The buildings’ history is exten
sive. World War Two ship
builders in Vancouver, Washing
ton have lived in the buildings, as
have University student families.
But low-income families will now
call some of the former Amazon
Family Housing structures home.
“In World War Two when these
buildings were constructed, we
had a sign that we would put up,
‘V for victory,’” Mayor Ruth Bas
com said. “We have quality hous
ing for students and low-income
families. It’s a day to say ‘V for vic
tory’ a second time. ”
With the help of St. Vincent de
Paul and the Save Amazon Coali
tion, the 30 newly-renovated
apartments survived the Univer
sity’s demolition of the Amazon
student housing complex.
“This is a very happy and satis
fying day for the University,” Uni
versity President Dave Frohnmay
er said. “And it’s a real tribute to
our community that we celebrate
today.”
The University originally want
ed to demolish all of the Amazon
buildings. Opponents fought to
save the buildings because of their
half-century history.
“One of the first decisions I
made upon becoming president of
ANDREW BRACKENSICK/Emerald
The newly renovated Bagley Downs apartments are some of the 30 Amazon buildings that were spared.
the University of Oregon is, regret
tably, we could not afford as a Uni
versity to restore Amazon Hous
ing,” Frohnmayer said. “[Now
we’re able] to provide additional
housing in this area for low-in
come families who desperately
need it at this time of rental short
ages in the entire region. ”
Rent for a two-bedroom apart
ment at Bagley Downs will run
$270 a month. To qualify, renters
must earn less than $16,400 for a
family of three or $18,200 for a
‘r
four-person family. St. Vincent de
Paul already has a waiting list for
families hoping to move in.
“You know, a home is some
thing more than four walls, a ceil
ing and a floor,” Frohnmayer said.
“It is — or ought to be, at least—a
safe haven and a nurturing envi
ronment. And we have seen a
community effort here that retains
the sense of community and will
provide [those things] to those
families who are now able to live
here.”
H
[Now we’re able] to provide
additional housing in this
area for low-income families
who desperately need it at
this time of rental shortages
in the entire region.
—Dave Frohnmayer
UO President
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