13th and Olive, a proposed $89 million student housing project in Eugene, could increase density in the downtown area. (Rendering courtesy of Humphreys and Partners)
Huge Eugene apartment project worries residents
POSTED: Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 03:39 PM PT
Daily Journal of Commerce BY: Reed Jackson
Tags: 13th and Olive, Eugene, multifamily
A two-block site in downtown Eugene soon could become a mecca for college students – as many as 1,200, in fact.
A proposed $89 million project calls for construction of a five-story, 300-unit apartment complex called 13th and Olive. The development, designed by Humphreys and Partners Architects’ Northwest office, would wrap the housing around an eight-story parking structure.
But downtown residents fear their neighborhood could become plagued by noisy and unruly behavior – a somewhat common occurrence in the city’s West University area – if the development were not managed properly.
“We welcome students living in the neighborhood; what we’re concerned more about is the minority of students that aren’t good neighbors,” said Paul Conte, chairman of Jefferson Westside Neighbors. “We don’t want the obnoxious behavior that goes on in areas close to the university.”
Last May, the University of Oregon Department of Public Safety released a statistics report that showed a gradual increase in crime on campus and in the West University neighborhood.
“Near the site, there’s a senior housing high-rise, and one of the concerns of its residents is the monoculture of students that would happen,” said Nan Laurence, senior planner for the city of Eugene. “Students are as varied as we are in terms of behavior, but (residents are) worried about those who aren’t good about obeying rules.”
The project would help meet demand for student housing. Enrollment at UO has increased an average of 4 percent per year since 2009, and students have increasingly had to look farther from campus to find affordable housing.
Capstone Collegiate Communities, an Alabama-based company that develops, builds and manages student housing around the country, is behind the project. Conte acknowledged that it could be done effectively.
“When you look at how students are currently housed off campus, (the apartment complex) might turn out to be better than the alternative,” he said. “The best thing for university operations, students and the community is to have well-managed student housing. But it has to be well managed.”
According to Conrad Sick, a project consultant for Capstone, strict rules will be in effect for the 13th and Olive complex.
“It’s really important for the students to have a design that enables their security and prevents issues of unruly behavior from spilling out into public spaces,” Sick said. “We can’t be so heavy-handed that it impedes students and their lifestyles, but we can’t be soft and let things happen that will diminish the livability of the community.”
Sick said an around-the-clock security staff, a gating system and multiple surveillance cameras will be used. He added that a student government system will be set up to help regulate each housing segment.
David Mandelblatt, chairman of the Downtown Neighborhood Association in Eugene, is concerned about the proposed size of the development.
“It could be 1,200 millionaires or acrobats or people with dogs – it’s not about the students,” Mandelblatt said. “We only have 2,500 residents in downtown. The sheer increase of people could cause problems with traffic, mass transit, police and parking.”
However, like Conte, Mandelblatt believes the complex could benefit the area if it were managed properly. He believes downtown could see a boost in development as a result.
“The 1,200 students will obviously be consumers, and there’s not enough business right now to meet their needs,” he said. “There are a lot of great, small grocery shops, but there is no full-service grocery store. And there’s not even close to enough clothing shops. New businesses would have to be put in.”
In late April, Eugene City Council will decide whether to grant Capstone a $16 million tax break, over a 10-year span. Sick said the project will not move forward if the grant were not offered, but he believes the project is in line with city planning.
“The goals and objectives that City Council has put in place with (its) downtown plan are all pointing to this project as a catalyst for a very vibrant, active and unique downtown for Eugene.”
Laurence could not comment on the chances of the grant being offered. However, she said the project would fit within the city’s downtown plan.
http://djcoregon.com/news/2012/03/08...ies-residents/
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