For More Information Contact:
Joe Harwood, 685-7471
Eugene Water & Electric Board

Nov. 6, 2009

Media can preview design options for EWEB riverfront redevelopment

The Eugene Water & Electric Board and Rowell Brokaw Architects will provide a media preview of design options for redevelopment of the EWEB riverfront property from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Monday, Nov. 9. Interested media should call ahead to schedule an interview with the design team.

The preview for media will come in advance of a public presentation of the design options from 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesday at EWEB’s North Building, 500 E. Fourth Ave.

Unveiling of the design options follows more than a year of work by a Community Advisory Team that is helping EWEB create a master plan that will guide future redevelopment of the 27-acre riverfront property on the eastern edge of downtown.

Feedback collected from those attending the Tuesday presentation will be used to select preferred features from each concept that can be assembled into a single redevelopment design.  A rough draft of the master plan will be created by late February.

EWEB will move its operations and maintenance functions – about 250 workers – to a new facility off Roosevelt Boulevard in west Eugene in November 2010. In anticipation of eventually selling the vacated riverfront property, the utility is seeking community input on redevelopment options. EWEB customer service and administrative staff will remain in the Fourth Avenue headquarters building after operations personnel move to Roosevelt.

Those attending the Tuesday evening event will have the opportunity to meet the nine-member Community Advisory Team, a diverse volunteer group appointed by EWEB commissioners and the Eugene City Council to help guide the creation of the master plan. Representatives from Rowell Brokaw Architects, hired by EWEB as the project consultant, will also be on hand to answer questions.

The goal of the master planning process is to create a vibrant, active, multi-use “people place” along Eugene’s downtown riverfront, and also connect downtown with the Willamette River. The master plan is expected to be completed by next summer.

For more information, or to register for the Tuesday presentation, go to www.eugeneriverfront.com