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541-682-5010
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Downtown Eugene
99 W 10th Ave
Eugene, OR 97401
Ph: 541-682-5086

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Urban Renewal District Projects
Significant public and private investment has resulted in a number of Downtown projects over the years. Some of these sites are highlighted on the map below, click on one of those areas to learn about that project.
Map of Downtown Eugene with Projects highlighted
  Library Tiffany Building Lane Transit District Downtown Station Broadway Place Downtown Athletic Club Downtown Art Wayne Morse Federal Courthouse Inn at the Fifth Full City Coffee Eugene Hilton/Conference Center/Hult Center U.S. Bank


Eugene Public Library
Summary: The Eugene Urban Renewal Agency (URA) purchased the former Sears property in 1993 for $875,000, which included the land on which the Library was built. The URA also contributed additional cash to the project, with a total of about $25 million of the $36 million project coming from URA, representing nearly 70 percent of the capital cost for the new Library. The remaining 30 percent came from a combination of sources, including $5 million raised by the Eugene Public Library Foundation's Capital Campaign, sale of assets, and a local option levy of $1.9 million.

Outcome: The Library is a major destination and activity generator for downtown, drawing visitors in the thousands every day.
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Tiffany Building
Summary: Built in the late 1800s, the Tiffany Building was severely damaged by a 1986 fire. In 1991, the Eugene Urban Renewal Agency (URA) provided gap financing in the amount of $350,000 for the renovation of the building.

Outcome: The Tiffany Building is on the National Register of Historic Places. The renovation project included the creation of 18 new downtown housing units. The immediate market success of the Tiffany Building apartments played a major role in stimulating other downtown housing, including Broadway Place and High Street Terrace and also attracted successful, local retailers, Since the historic tax exemption expired in 2005, the Tiffany Building property has paid over $55,000 in property taxes.
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Lane Transit District Downtown Eugene Station
Summary: In 1989, the Eugene Urban Renewal Agency (URA) sold two quarter-block, URA-owned surface parking lots to LTD for the new station. URA funds totaling $2.2 million were used to help construction of the Pearl Street parking structure to mitigate parking.

Outcome: The LTD Downtown Eugene Station offers an alternative transportation option for downtown visitors and employees. In 2008, LTD ridership surpassed 11 million boardings. The Downtown Eugene Station will continue to be the major transportation hub and a significant activity generator downtown.
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Broadway Place
Summary: The Eugene Urban Renewal Agency (URA) assembled the two half-blocks that were used to develop the Broadway Place mixed-use project. URA funds in the amount of $2.6 million were contributed to the parking structure construction costs. The City sold development rights for housing to be constructed on top of the parking structures.

Outcome: The Broadway Place mixed-use project includes 170 apartment units, ground floor commercial space, and 740 structured parking spaces. It has become a major anchor for the west end of downtown and a popular residential destination with very low vacancy rates. The Broadway Place development received the 1999 Governor’s Livability Award.
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Downtown Athletic Club (DAC)
Summary: In the 1970s, the Eugene Urban Renewal Agency (URA) acquired the former Ax Billy Department Store building which was built in 1909 and scheduled for demolition. The URA sold the property in 1985 for its appraised value ($213,000), and also provided gap financing in the amount of $150,000 for its renovation.

Outcome: The The Ax Billy building is on the National Register of Historic Places. As the Downtown Athletic Club (DAC), it is one of the most significant anchors downtown, employing 150 individuals and drawing club members and visitors downtown daily. Since the historic tax exemption expired in 2005, the DAC properties have paid $375,000 in property taxes.
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U.S. Bank Building
Summary: The Eugene Urban Renewal Agency (URA) assembled the half-block along 8th Avenue between Willamette and Olive Streets and sold the property in 1993 for $688,000. The U.S. Bank Commercial Center office building was constructed which includes ground floor retail along Willamette Street.

Outcome: The U.S. Bank building is a major commercial office anchor and employment generator for downtown. The U.S. Bank property currently generates $194,000 in annual property tax revenue.
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Hult Center/Hilton Hotel/Conference Center
Summary: In 1978, voters supported an $18.5 million general obligation bond to finance the Hult Center construction, which was built on Eugene Urban Renewal Agency (URA) property that was donated to the project. In 1980, the URA sold the adjacent property to the Hilton developers and issued urban renewal bonds in the amount of $2,040,000 to finance the parking structure upon which the Conference Center was built. In 1981, certificates of participation in the amount of $6,920,000 were sold in order to construct the Conference Center.

Outcome: The Hult Center, Hilton Hotel and Conference Center together are considered to be one of the most important anchors downtown. The Hult Center, regarded as the finest performing arts venue between Portland and San Francisco, hosts over 700 events per year which draw thousands of visitors. The Hilton Hotel and Conference Center also bring thousands of visitors to the downtown core daily. The Hilton property generates over $124,000 in annual property tax revenue.
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Downtown Art
Summary: Eugene Urban Renewal Agency (URA) funds have traditionally been used to place new art downtown. When Willamette Street was reopened in 1996, URA provided $75,000 for art including the Four Seasons sculptures. The URA has also commissioned art pieces placed downtown, including the nature sculpture located on Olive Street near the corner of Broadway and the animal sculptures featured along Broadway.

Outcome: Downtown art reinforces downtown’s role as the cultural center for the community, enhances the pedestrian experience, and creates landmarks that identify arts districts downtown
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Full City Coffee
Summary: In 1990, the Eugene Urban Renewal Agency (URA) made a $10,000 loan to help establish Full City Coffee at its Pearl Street location. As a start-up business with limited capital, the project required URA assistance to fund tenant improvements for the new coffee shop.

Outcome: Full City Coffee has established itself as a retail and social destination, helping create local flavor and identity in the downtown core. The URA financing was repaid in full.
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Inn at the 5th
Summary: The City approved $500,000 Business Development Fund (BDF) loan to Inn at Fifth Street Public Market, LLC for the construction of a new hotel in the northwest corner of the 5th Street Market. The loan, which will be repaid in five years, will be used for pre-development design costs, such as architectural and engineering fees. The goal of the BDF program is to create jobs and to stimulate private sector investment.

Outcome: Hotel accommodations in the heart of downtown Eugene will help meet the existing demand for accommodations and increase the community’s ability to hold more and larger events. In addition to the numerous construction jobs, the hotel will create approximately 25 permanent full time jobs in the community.
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Wayne Morse Federal Courthouse
Summary: The City assembled approximately nine acres at the eastern edge of downtown to accommodate the new courthouse and related infrastructure. The properties were formerly used for agricultural manufacturing and auto body repair.

Outcome: The Wayne Morse Federal Courthouse, designed by architect Thom Mayne, is a landmark development by an internationally recognized architect. The urban renewal investment leveraged approximately $8 million in federal funds to complete the infrastructure improvements, including a pedestrian crossing along 8th Avenue at Mill street. The completed project is a catalyst for redevelopment of the courthouse area properties and a step towards the goal of connecting downtown to the Willamette River.
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CITY OF EUGENE OREGON
125 East 8th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Eugene, Oregon 97401
Ph: 541-682-5010    Fx: 541-682-5414