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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 20, 2004)
Bakery might become site for new UO arena Plans fora new basketball stadium move forward again after cost overruns last year stalled them BEN BROWN NEWS REPORTER Plans for a rebuilt and modernized McArthur Court are moving forward at the Williams Bakery site, though not as quickly as originally planned. University Vice President for Ad ministration Dan Williams — who is not affiliated with the bakery — said work has been going on behind the scenes since University President Dave Frohnmayer stalled the project indefinitely in February 2004 because of its $ 180 million pricetag. At that time, the University was plan ning to build on its secondary site at Howe Field, at the comer of University Street and East 18th Avenue. "We didn't have a plan we thought was affordable," Williams said. Since then, the owners of Williams Bakery, located on East 13th Avenue, Columbia Street and Villard Street, have become more willing to selling the land. Williams said the University has been working with bakery owners on a relocation effort that would free up the land for University purchase. "From the beginning, the bakery was our primary site," Williams said. Williams said it is still too early in the process for a price estimate and no plans have been drawn up or con tractors hired. After more than a year of planning and consideration, the University set tled on a list of seven sites for consid eration. The primary sites considered were Howe Field and the current site of Williams Bakery. Both of these sites were popular because of their proximity to campus. Frohnmayer announced his ap proval of the new sports arena in August 2003. In October 2003 Frohnmayer an nounced that the University had set tled on its secondary site — Howe Field — for the new sports facility. Fi nal plans for the project included a training center and a two-story, 670 space parking garage. The parking garage was meant to allay concerns of people living south of the University. Attendance of Ducks basketball games exacerbates parking difficulties and traffic in the neighborhood during winter. Peg Peters, president of the South University Neighbors Association said residents of the neighborhood raised concerns that a new, larger structure would bring more traffic. The real trouble began in Novem ber 2003, when the University Senate voted unanimously to censure the University for the method by which it selected Howe Field as the area for the new arena. The Senate said the University failed to submit its plan to the Campus Planning Committee as per University policy. Business professor and Senate member Mike Russo presented the resolution to the Senate to express his opposition to the plan and remedy the situation. “There is a profound sense that this system is out of balance,” Russo said. “We have planning processes for a reason.” Williams admitted he did not fol low policy. “It wasn’t really relevant to what we’re doing today,” Williams said, adding that the policy was written in 1983. Further problems occurred in Janu ary 2004 when the estimated cost of the arena jumped $20 million to a total of $180 million, twice as much as the $90 million initial estimates called for. The University managed to raise $100 million in philanthropic dona tions for the project. Most of the mon ey came from Nike Chairman and CEO Phil Knight and Pat Kilkenny, chair man of The Arrowhead Group. Williams said the project is now moving forward slowly. “We expect to build the arena if we find land that works,” he said. benbrown@ daily emerald, com PERUG1NQ, The Best Coffee In Town sztoo ■■■■. - 767 Willamette Street • Eugene • Tel: 687.9102 Open until midnight Thurs-Sat IHMMMHMnMMM t M M M • Review: Residence halls receive low rating Continued from page 1A standard double room offers 148 square feet of living space and in cludes a bed, desk and closet space. A deluxe double is 300 square feet. The most spacious rooms are in Barnhart Hall where a standard dou ble is 264 square feet and includes its own bathroom. Eyster said he knows that the resi dence halls need to be improved. He has been told that students have come through the University and had second thoughts about coming here after seeing the residence halls. “To attract the students we want to attract we need to improve the residence halls,” Eyster said. Eyster said those concerns are why the Living Learning Center is such an important project. Eyster said the center is the first step in a long-term process. Not only will the center provide students with bigger rooms, but it will also allow Hous ing to empty other residence halls to renovate or replace them. However, since the Living Learning Center won’t be complet ed until fall 2006, in the meantime Housing provides students with the opportunity to attend panel discussions with University man agement staff and offer feedback on a number of topics, including their living situations. To see how the University rated in other areas or to participate in next year’s survey, go to www.princeton review.com. benbrown@dailyemerald.com LUNCH • DINNER FINE WINES MICROBREWS P ZZA ❖ ( I A N K ' Since 1973 THE BEST IN ITALIAN DINING HOMEMADE PIZZA • LASAGNA • MANICOTTI CALZONE • RAVIOLI • CANNELLONI FRESH PASTA • SPECIALTY DINNERS SANDWICHES • FRESH SALADS FREE DELIVERY Tuesday-All You Can Eat Spaghetti & Garlic Bread: $3.50 484-0996 2673 WILLAMETTE (27th & Willamette) VISA WARM FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE Welcome Back Students Need stuff lor Nth to school! • New/used furniture and re-built beds starting at $99 • Name brand and vintage clothes • Major appliances with 90-day warranties starting at $99 6 locations in Eugene to serve you: ★555 High St., 344-2115 (our newest location across from 5th St. Market) • 2345 West Broadway, 284-5024 (huge warehouse of used furniture) • 705 S. 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