The City is offering an opportunity for those who are interested in the potential redevelopment of Broadway Plaza. The City has issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for the redevelopment of the property located at the center of downtown at the south-east corner of Broadway and Willamette streets. Proposals for the site will be accepted through January 15, 2016. For details or a copy of the RFEI visit the City’s website at www.eugene-or.gov/BroadwayRFEI.
While the site is not currently for sale, the City did receive an offer from a private party to purchase the property at market value earlier this fall for residential and retail use. The Council has the ultimate authority over sale of the property. It is anticipated that the City Council will consider options for the property in February 2016.
In preparation for Council consideration and discussion, the City Manager is considering three potential possibilities for the future of the property:
· Sale or lease for private redevelopment;
· Public investment to improve the use and appearance of the plaza; or
· Take no action.
The focus of the RFEI is related to the redevelopment option. The City is seeking concepts that will provide distinctive, creative, and active uses for the property. The ideal redevelopment will provide an urban use that complements recent investment in the area including the Broadway Commerce Center; First on Broadway mixed-use development; and the Woolworth Building. In addition, the preferred project will contribute to the pedestrian experience downtown, support the Eugene Downtown Plan’s vision for a strong, active urban center, and provide a suitable home for the Kesey statue either onsite or elsewhere in the community.
Redevelopment teams or individuals with a proven track record of establishing creative and distinctive developments in urban, downtown settings with high-quality urban design are encouraged to submit proposals.
Historically, the site has been used primarily for commercial structures, the last of which was a two-story building, with commercial offices on the second floor and retail spaces on the ground floor. With construction of the downtown mall in 1970, the structure was removed. The property was a part of the pedestrian mall until 2002, when Broadway and Willamette streets were reopened. The property has been used for food carts and for special events primarily sponsored by the City’s Cultural Services programming. Should City Council choose to redevelop the property, creating replacement space for those public events as well as food carts would need to be added to the planning and place-making work underway for the four other public spaces downtown, including the Park Blocks, the Hult Center Plaza, the new City Hall Plaza, and the new riverfront park on the EWEB property.
The property is approximately 4,400 square feet, zoned C-3 (Major Commercial) and is located within city’s central business district. It is close to the downtown Public Library, a community landmark and a destination for over one million visitors each year, the Lane Transit District Downtown Station, serving approximately 11,000 people per day, and within walking distance of numerous cultural, entertainment, and retail venues.