City of Eugene, OR

07/19/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/19/2024 14:52

Exciting developments in the Downtown Riverfront

The Eugene Downtown Riverfront is abuzz with new and exciting developments this spring and summer. For the first time in years there are people living and working in the Downtown Riverfront with the opening of the first residential apartment homes and the new Eugene City Hall. Read on or take a virtual tour to learn more about more housing development, the construction of the Downtown Riverfront Plaza and the next steps for the Steam Plant.

Eugene City Hall

Eugene's City Hall is officially open to the public! A grand opening was held on July 18 at the new City Hall site, 500 E 4th Ave. Just down the path from the beautiful Downtown Riverfront Park, this location maintains public access to the Willamette River, expanding downtown all the way to the river's edge. The site will establish a place for civic and community engagement and increase ease of access to City services. Learn more about City Hall, including offices that are located in the building and a background of how the location was selected.

First Downtown Riverfront Residences Open With More Coming Soon

Heartwood is the first of at least six residential buildings planned for the River District in the Downtown Riverfront neighborhood, which will also feature gathering spaces, public art, boutique retail, restaurants and services, and connections to local parks, trails and the Willamette River waterfront.

"Our vision for a vibrant new Downtown Riverfront neighborhood is now coming to fruition," said City of Eugene Planning and Development Director Denny Braud. "With the collective wisdom of our community, diligent planning, and collaborative work with private partners, we are transforming the former EWEB utility property into an exciting new destination where people can live and play along the riverfront. This is truly where the river meets the city."

Atkins Dame started construction on Heartwood in August 2022. Located on 5th Avenue, just east of the viaduct, the four-story residential building offers 95 market-rate apartment homes. The Heartwood project is estimated to have employed between 250-300 people and hired more than 30 firms from Eugene and surrounding areas.

Construction on the "Portal" started in 2023 and will add 130 market-rate apartment homes to the Downtown Riverfront. The Portal is located at the southwest intersection of 4th Avenue and Mill Street. This project, like Heartwood, is designed to the standards of Earth Advantage Gold and will exceed current energy codes. Additionally, the building was designed to meet Fitwel 1-star compliance, a "healthy building" standard that includes amenities such as fitness rooms and bike racks. The building is expected to be completed in 2025

Once fully developed, the River District will be home to more than 500 new market-rate residences. The property at the northwest corner of 4th Avenue and Mill Street is reserved for an affordable housing project, which will include a minimum of 75 residences that are affordable to households with incomes up to 60% of area median income.

Downtown Riverfront Plaza Construction Begins

Construction has begun on the Downtown Riverfront Plaza. This next phase of work will expand the park by approximately one acre across the Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path to create an open, programmable plaza space in the heart of the riverfront development.

The design is a blend of natural and urban amenities. It boasts a variety of features, including a shady tree grove, interactive public art, a water feature and splash pad, nature play area, event space and more. Thoughtfully placed seating areas and shaded spots encourage visitors to relax and enjoy the panoramic views of the river.

Plaza construction is expected to take place over the next year with the plaza opening in Summer 2025.

The Downtown Riverfront Park fulfills a long-held goal of turning the former EWEB utility operations yard into a vibrant, active, and accessible riverfront park that reconnects Downtown to the Willamette River and serves as a regional destination. Funding for phase one of the Downtown Riverfront Park development came from the 2018 Parks and Recreation Bond, Urban Renewal Agency funds and Public Works capital funds. Construction of the Plaza is being funded by the State of Oregon and the Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Eugene. Ongoing maintenance of the park is being funded by the 2023 Parks and Recreation Levy

Steam Plant Moves Forward

In April, Eugene City Council, acting as the Urban Renewal Agency Board, voted to approve an additional $6 million in Urban Renewal funds (tax increment funds) to support the redevelopment of the Steam Plant. This key action enables the project to move to the next phase of development.

Located prominently along the banks of the Willamette River, the Steam Plant is an iconic representation of the community's industrial history and is ripe with possibility. The redevelopment of the Steam Plant is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to restore the historic Downtown Riverfront site while embracing its potential to be a place the community is proud of. Unfortunately, after years of disuse, general aging, and because of the very specialized use it was designed and built for, the building needs considerable investment and restoration before it can be usable.

The Agency Board initially approved deal points for the Steam Plant redevelopment project in January 2022, committing funding for asbestos abatement, system development charges, and permit fees. This April, they approved revisions to those terms, which include extending the timeline for construction and the $6 million of additional funds. The additional funds will be used for project-related costs such as selective demolition, building stabilization, and historic preservation activities.

The development team, identified as Dream Plant, LLC (Dream Plant) and led by deChase Miksis, proposes to save and adaptively re-use the Steam Plant, transforming it into an iconic community destination that connects people with downtown and the Willamette River.

  • The ground floor will be a gathering place where people come to work, play, collaborate, and experience a setting for arts and culture amidst venues offering Eugene's beer, wine, coffee, and food.
  • The upper levels of the building will include a hotel that provides the fiscal foundation to make the redevelopment feasible and sustainable.
  • The centerpiece of the building will be a flexible and adaptive performance and exhibit space, which was added to the proposal in response to community input that asked that the building be a place for the creation and enjoyment of art.
  • The team will partner with the City to program and activate the new overlook to be built on the water intake structure sitting on the edge of the river, offering food and beverage options with the dramatic industrial backdrop (see the Dream Plant proposal).

"We see this as an unparalleled opportunity to revive a historic landmark and create a vibrant community hub along the Willamette River. With the approved additional funds, we're poised to preserve its legacy while ushering in a new era of innovation, culture, and connectivity for Eugene," shares Mark Miksis, Dream Plant development team lead.

Additionally, this work is aligned with the City's broad effort toward Strategic Plan goals working to address urgent community needs to increase vibrancy, vitality, and livability of downtown.

For more City updates visit our City Newsroom webpage.