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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 23, 2007)
WILL CITY DEMOLISH HISTORY? The city of Eugene and developer KWG want to tear down the historic Farmer’s Market and bank buildings on Broadway to make room for upscale development and parking garages, but a group of citizens want the buildings restored. “Leveling whole city blocks of build- ings during the 1960s and ’70s period of urban ‘renewal’ was a recipe for disaster for downtown,” said local historic preser- vation advocate David Gusset. “We are still reeling from its impact. You would think that we could have learned some- thing by now from our previous mistake.” Bank building Beneath the 1960s stucco facade of the building on Broadway that now hous- es a medical supply shop and dance cen- ter lies the ornate facade of Eugene’s his- toric Farmer’s Market. The 1929 market was built in a Spanish-Morocco style with multiple entries, plate glass windows, spi- raled columns, decorative tile and an airy inside with vaulted ceilings. The market was a major anchor for downtown until 1959 when car culture, sprawl and super- markets killed it. Farmer’s Market Much of the building’s ornate facade still exists under the boxy 1960s shell, which could be easily removed, according to Gusset, local historic preservation consult- ant Jonathan Pincus and Citizens for Public Accountability member Lynn Reichman. The city should also save the historic bank and store building at the north cor- ner of Broadway and Willamette, the three argue. The building now houses a Taco Time, but beneath the 1960s shell is a structure that was originally built around 1860 and is probably the oldest commercial building in Eugene. The brick and stone building originally served as a store for the pioneer Bristow family and then as a bank. Even if only half the original structure remains beneath the box shell, the building could still be restored using old photos and designs, the historic preserva- tion group argues. Gusset, Pincus and Reichman argue that restoring the market and bank build- ings would fit with a growing environmental movement to buy local, organic pro- duce and sustainably restore buildings rather than throwing them away and increasing global warming. But the preservationists complain that the city, developer and their consultant have dismissed the buildings as not worth saving. The Seattle city establishment took the same view of the Pike Place Market three decades ago, but citizens fought to save the historic market and created a celebrated city treasure that now attracts 10 million visitors a year. — Alan Pittman FOOTBALL GOES TO THE DOGS Bad news for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is good news for for- mer Duck football star Joey Harrington. Vick, owner of Bad Newz Kennels in Smithfield, Va., has pled guilty to charges of dog fighting. His indictment accuses him of not only fighting the dogs, but killing dogs that lost fights or lacked the will to fight by drowning, electrocution, hanging, shooting and slamming one dog into the ground. An anonymous source told The Associated Press that prosecutors will recom- mend Vick be sentenced to between a year and 18 months in prison for his crimes. Fifty-three of the dogs, mainly pit bull terriers, have been seized and if they go unclaimed by Thursday, Aug. 23, a federal judge will decide if they can be sold, or disposed of “by other humane means.” Most dogs that have been used in fighting are euthanized, according to the Humane Society of the United States. This is not the first case of animal cruelty by sports stars. Qyntel Woods of Portland’s Trail Blazers basketball team was accused of involvement in dog fighting several years ago. Animal advocacy groups like the Humane Society and PETA are calling for the NFL and other professional sports associations to take action against violence towards animals. With Vick out of the picture, Eugene favorite Joey Harrington is now the Falcons’ starting quarterback. This is Harrington’s third NFL team after playing for the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. — Camilla Mortensen 8 AUGUST 23, 2007 news briefs ECO- SABATOGE CASES CONTINUE The Northwest’s Operation Backfire cases continue to work their way slowly through the federal legal system. The only accused eco-avenger going to trial in the cases has had her court date pushed back again. Briana Waters’ case, which will be heard in the Western District of Washington, has been moved to Feb. 4, 2008. Ten of the Backfire cases were sentenced here, and those defendants entered into plea agreements with the federal government rather than going to trial. Two other defendants, Lacey Phillabaum and Jennifer Kolar, who have also entered pleas, will be sentenced in Washington, most likely after Waters’ trial. The 10 previously sentenced defendants have been designated to prisons around the country with at least one defendant, Kevin Tubbs, currently in a high security facility. Tubbs is at United States Penitentiary (USP) Lompoc, the California facility that was built to replace notorious Alcatraz Island. Nathan “Exile” Block is also at Lompoc but in the low security portion of the facility. Joyanna “Sadie” Zacher has been designated to Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Dublin, also low security, as has Suzanne Savoie. Canadian citizen Darren Thurston is at FCI Sheridan, a medium security facility. Jonathan Paul and Kendall Tankersley have not yet reported to prison. Daniel McGowan, Stanislas Meyerhoff and Chelsea Gerlach all await their final designations at various detention centers around the country. Because Meyerhoff and Gerlach were given longer sentences, as well as the terrorism enhancement, supporters fear they too may be designated to high security facilities. — Camilla Mortensen GOLDEN OUT OF RACE The Democratic competition to chal- lenge Republican U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith got smaller last week with the announce- ment by Jeff Golden of Ashland that he will not be filing for the 2008 primary. The announcement follows news that Gov. Ted Kulongoski and former Gov. Barbara Roberts have endorsed Jeff Merkley in the race. Another Senate hopeful from southern Oregon, state Sen. Alan Bates, has also decided not to run. EARLY DEADLINES Eugene Weekly’s deadline for submitting personal ads, previously on Mondays, will now be 5 pm Fridays. The deadline for classified line ads will remain at 5 pm Mondays. Coming up, EW offices will be closed Labor Day, Sept. 3. Early deadline for reserving display ad space will be 5 pm Thursday, Aug. 30. Early deadline for classified ads in that issue will be 5 pm Friday, Aug. 31. Got questions? Call 484-0519.
