I received this email, from an email list being passed around amongst friends. Not sure how much play this has received, but posting it here can only help further educate the “silent majority” into being proactive when it comes to the development of Downtown Eugene. Downtown is not just for struggling artists, entrenched landowners, and latchkey kids. It’s for all of Eugene, including those of us who don’t live there. In fact, real “diversity” is when each segment can coexist without each being more offended than the other about who’s getting more political chips. Politics needs to involve some compromise or it becomes an oligarchy of the radical few!

Well, this is it. Next week the City Council will decide if and what steps will be taken on West Broadway Redevelopment. Those who oppose revitalizing downtown have told their story, now we need to tell ours. Take 5 minutes right now to email and/or call and ask them to vote Yes on the KWG project. If you are so inclined, you may also tell them you are a member of Shop Eugene. More detailed information about Shop Eugene
and the KWG proposal below.

mayorandcc@ci.eugene.or.us 682-5010

And/or send individual emails to the swing votes:

Kitty.Piercy@ci.eugene.or.us 682-5010 (message)

Alan.Zelenka@ci.eugene.or.us 344-5721 (message)

Chris.E.Pryor@ci.eugene.or.us 484-6896 (message)

Andrea.F.Ortiz@ci.eugene.or.us

If you are not currently on the listserv for Shop Eugene, email shopeugene@comcast.net. You will receive updates on what’s happening with downtown development, how you can get involved, and an invitation to a strategic planning gathering.

Shop Eugene’s Purpose

Each year, Eugene residents spend millions of dollars shopping outside of their community. Shop Eugene is a coalition of local people who want to create a thriving downtown with a mix of eateries and local and national retailers that offers an inviting and safe place for individuals and families to shop, see a movie, bump into friends and neighbors, and feel part of our community. Shop Eugene supports Eugene’s incredible array of locally owned businesses such as the members of Unique Eugene and Downtown Eugene Incorporated. We wish to see anchor stores in downtown Eugene such as Crate & Barrel, Restoration Hardware, and Nordstrom that will increase the number of local and regional visitors to downtown and help ensure the success of our unique locally owned stores. We support building on the successes of 5th Street Public Market and Oakway Center and envision Eugene joining cities like Portland and Seattle by becoming a regional Shopping destination.

We support a larger, more comprehensive development plan that will help tie both ends of Broadway together and realize our tax dollars may be needed to help make this happen. We are thousands of people who want to shop in Eugene, help create new jobs, and restore downtown to a vital economic engine.

KWG Proposal (covering 3% of downtown)

Redevelop the entire block bounded by Charnelton, Broadway, 10th and Olive, the two half blocks facing Broadway between Olive and Willamette and the properties on Olive at the northwest corner of Broadway to
create an intense “West End” retail/entertainment district with a multiplex theatre, boutique hotel, over 400 housing units and 200,000 feet of retail along Broadway between Charnelton and Willamette. KWG intends to remake West Broadway into a dynamic 24 hour community with restaurants, a multi-screen movie venue, night clubs, a mix of national and local retailers, a large grocer, a high-end hotel, and a dense mix of rental and for sale housing. In essence, these two blocks of Broadway would be recast into downtown Eugene’s entertainment hot spot. The proximity of the proposed entertainment cen ter to the Hult Center, and
other cultural venues in the adjacent blocks creates the opportunity for tremendous energy in the Redevelopment Area. The adjacent Eugene Transit Center and the new EmX rapid transit system provides a convenient link to the West End entertainment hub from all over the Eugene/Springfield metro area.

More detailed information is available at www.eugene-or.gov. Go to Planning, Downtown Planning.

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