VIEWPOINT
BY OT TO POTICHA
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Justin Montoya, MD
1410 Oak St, Ste 102 in the Keiper Spine building
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ARE CITY DEPARTMENTS TALKING TO
EACH OTHER?
Imagine miles of new and upgraded sidewalks, two new bike/
pedestrian bridges connecting residents to West 11th Avenue,
and improved traffi c fl ow. That’s what the West Eugene EmX will
do for our community.
I
read with great interest this past week about the city agreeing to sell
the “triangle site” east of the new U.S. Courthouse. A great deal of the
comments centered on the relocation or suspension of the “garden.”
Gardens are moveable items and should be considered in this matter. The
source of this concern is the uses and designs proposed for the Northwest
Community Credit Union Building and the restrictions, if any, placed on
the developer by the city (the current owner of the site).
This is a very important site and plays a very important role for the city’s past
and recent plans, statements and goals. The “Great Street,” (one of the only master
plan items for the City), The “Return to the River” studies, the “Envision Eugene”
efforts, the EWEB and city master plans for the riverfront all rely on this site and
other sites along 8th Avenue for success.
Learn the facts at www.ltd.org.
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6
It is often that the different agencies or departments of the city do not
communicate with each other when examining proposals that should support
the established and approved goals of these previous studies.
It is of interested to see that the proposed new owner and developer for this
site is called the Northwest Community Credit Union. The word “community”
implies that they intend to incorporate, make these community studies a part of
their development and support those previous community goals and statements.
A three- to four-story building does subscribe to the future of this area.
However, the word “partial” underground parking implies much more of the
parking will be on grade and landscape screened which is not acceptable. It
will also be important to see what uses will be included on the ground fl oor
of this building other than just a bank lobby that is supported by a parking
lot, I hope this means more than a coffee shop. This site is the entrance to
the downtown, faces three important streets, can connect and should play
a very important role to 8th Avenue and the connection to the river. It will
probably eliminate the other studies that have occurred which is the possible
reconnection of the Millrace to the river or small pocket parks or public
squared on the journey to the river unless the city has reserved a portion of the
site for these important uses.
I want to support this development. I want and expect the developer to
understand their responsibilities for this important development and expect the
city to place the necessary restrictions to make this development responsible
to the previous goals and studies and help to make this development be a
community-responsible development as their name implies. ■
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November 8, 2012 • eugeneweekly.com