Eugene weekly., May 22, 2014, Page 7, Image 7

Mystical Arts of Tibet
NEIGHBORHOODS SEEK MORE
SAY IN DEVELOPMENT RULES
Some neighborhood leaders are saying that the city of Eugene has not
included neighborhoods enough in decisions about new property tax exemp-
tion rules for housing developments of five or more units, aka the MUPTE
(Multi-Unit Property Tax Exemption) program.
MUPTE is aimed at increasing the amount of multi-unit housing in order
to prepare for projected population growth and it exempts developers from
paying property taxes for up to 10 years. The program was suspended last
year so the Eugene City Council can revise the eligibility requirements.
Neighborhood advocate Paul Conte says MUPTEs can do harm or good
in a community, depending on the proposed development, and should benefit
the community, not just the developer. He says the tax exemptions are public
money being given away.
“It’s revenue we would get if we didn’t give the tax breaks,” Conte says.
He suggests that MUPTE be granted to low-income housing built by local
developers.
Whiteaker Community Council member David Nickles says that “it’s go-
ing to come down to how exactly this law is written that’s going to shape
what Eugene’s going to look like for the next 50 years.”
The city’s proposed MUPTE criteria require applicants to “make an effort
to contact the appropriate neighborhood association to share project informa-
tion and seek input.” But Nickles says that neighborhoods should be includ-
ed more and earlier in the planning process for MUPTE-approved buildings.
Currently only downtown Eugene is eligible for MUPTE. The proposed
changes would add MUPTE zones to west, north and south Eugene. The
only MUPTE zone in the Whiteaker neighborhood would be along 6th and
7th avenues.
“Whiteaker isn’t that directly affected, so
we’re not terrified,” Nickles says. “But it
could be bad for the city as a whole.”
The City Council suspended MUPTE
following public response to exemp-
tions given to large student-housing
complex developers Capstone and Core
Campus. The suspension has been ex-
— PA U L C O N T E ,
tended twice and currently has a sunset
date of July 31.
South University Neighbor-
hood Vice Chair Bill Aspegren
says the City Council should have
made Capstone, which received a
MUPTE for the 550-unit student
housing development downtown,
fund a safe bike path from down-
town to UO as part of the MUPTE
requirements.
The City Council will meet for a
work session about MUPTE at 5:30
pm Monday, June 9, at Harris Hall,
125 E. 8th Ave. — Missy Corr
Sacred Music Sacred Dance
for World Healing
Hult Center for the Performing Arts
7:30 p.m., Friday, June 13, Soreng Theater
A Richard Gere and Drepung Loseling Production. The famed
multiphonic singers of Tibet’s Drepung Loseling Monastery
offer transcendent temple music and dance that delight the
senses and nourish the spirit.
Admission: $25 – $42 (Youth $15)
Hult Center Box Office
Up Coming Events
For more information visit, www.palmocenter.org
Tibet Night
First Friday Art Walk
Art, Music, Dance
Friday, June 6
5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Eugene Hilton Hotel
Mandala Sand
Painting
June 7 - June 12
12 - 6 p.m. daily
LCC, Downtown Campus
10th Ave & Olive
Run with Peace
5K/10K
9 a.m.
Saturday, June 14
Alton Baker Park
eclecticedgeracing.com
‘It’s revenue we
would get
if we didn’t
give the
tax breaks.’
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eugeneweekly.com • May 22, 2014
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