I love Eugene for the way its thought leaders in the local media provoke outrage..in the most laid back, passive-aggressive way imaginable. This can’t be called hypocrisy because hypocrisy requires a carefully constructed image of impermeable resoluteness, something Eugene is not exactly known for.

Or maybe it is. I don’t know..whatever you say man..

So that’s why this article in the Eugene Weekly really makes me laugh. Is there anything left to tap once the Eugene Weekly has tapped the public’s reservoir of rage towards those who have acquired or accomplished more than they? I feel exhausted after reading the Weekly sometimes, like I need a fresh IPA and some banter to bring me back to life.

In its latest, ongoing attempt to reshape public opinion about Downtown projects, the Eugene Weekly stereotypes KWG, the developer behind the most ambitious proposal for West Broadway yet, proposer of “The West End,” as a greedy developer out to bilk the taxpayers of Eugene out of $50 Million.

Does this city really lack the ability to look past stereotypes about developers and consider the facts?

• The best bid will win. Unlike Eugene’s elected leaders, developers and business people face real competition every day. They are not all a bunch of greedy local subsidy raiders. Yes they’re business people who expect a profit commensurate with risk. No they’re not TV caricatures of developers the way the Eugene Weekly likes to portray them. This isn’t The Dukes of Hazzard.
• West Broadway is embarrassing. Downtown is embarrassing. There’s nothing more that can be said here. Sure there are pockets of greatness downtown, but ask the majority of people who live downtown if they think it’s an ideal place to live and they’ll tell you the idealists are holding it hostage.
• About 1,000 construction jobs would be created for a period of about 18 months. Nevermind, Eugene doesn’t need jobs.
• All parking would be underground. That means another great place for the dropouts to smoke a joint or ten.
• Cost is estimated to be over $30M. This is NOT the City’s cost. And nowhere is it stated in the proposal that the City’s cost is $50 million. I challenge the Eugene Weekly to produce facts to support that price, net income from the project and $6M+ in grants from the Federal Brownfield Program.
• KWG is not proposing a “Mall-like Megaproject” as the Eugene Weekly calls it. That’s a complete suspension of the truth. This proposal looks nothing like a “mall” the way Oakway or Valley River Center are malls.

If KWG won the bid for some or all of West Broadway land for sale, 174 rental units over the grocery store (the one Eugene ran out of downtown once already?) would rent to households earning 60% of median income. For Eugene, that means about $29K for a family and $22K for an individual. This sure sounds like mixed-use to me.

KWG built a low income project in Downtown Vancouver called Esther Short Commons. The building won several design awards. Unfortunately, some of the liveability issues surrounding low income housing also leaves very little to the imagination. This isn’t KWG’s problem, this is the city of Vancouver’s problem. Just as it’s the City of Eugene’s problem.

KWG cannot solve the low income housing or downtown development problems for Eugene. Yet maybe if Eugene faced its reckless core more courageously, with more ambition and willingness to innovate, a developer would meet the City halfway.

Then someday the people of Eugene might be proud to say, like citizens of Portland can, that downtown is a fantastic place to live, work, and play.

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