On July 14 the Lane Community College board unanimously approved the purchase of 10 th and Charnelton property in downtown Eugene and agreed to include a student housing component in the project. The inclusion of a residence hall is expected to bring almost 200 new residents to Eugene’s central core. In addition, the board approved a contract with Robertson Sherwood Architects and SRG Partnership to design the buildings. LCC will buy the property for $1 from the City of Eugene. Earlier this year the City Council also agreed to help support the development of the academic building with $8 million of urban renewal funding.
On March 10, 2010, the City Council acting as the Urban Renewal Agency Board, approved the sale of the property across from the downtown library at 10th Ave and Charnelton St to Lane Community College (LCC). LCC intends to build a new 90,000 square-foot downtown center on the site. The new facility will provide affordable job-training and small business development education in an innovative, “green” building with easy access to mass transit. LCC is also considering building about 200 beds of student housing on the site.
While it is still in the early stages of development, the new LCC building plans on being a model of energy efficiency and green construction which will house the college’s Energy Management program. LCC is committed to a strong downtown presence and will continue its current offerings, plus add access to training programs in health and alternative health care, energy management and renewable energy, and business development and employee training services. Construction on the new facility could begin in 2011. The City is looking forward to a continued partnership with LCC to move this important development project forward. LCC’s Downtown Campus Feasibility Report can viewed here.
For more information about the new LCC Downtown Campus, please go to LCC’s Downtown Campus webpage at: http://www.lanecc.edu/dc/.