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Eugene Tree Foundation <br /> Making Our Community a More Pleasant Place for both People and Trees <br /> 3 August 1998 <br /> Introduction <br /> During the summer of 199K, members of Eugene Tree Foundation met first with <br /> Mayor Torrey and later with City Manager Vicki Elmer and Director of Public <br /> Works Christine Andersen to discuss a variety of issues regarding trees and <br /> other vegetation within our community. A concern that all parties shared was <br /> that, as infill and development continue in our community, there is less and <br /> less space for the trees and other vegetation that we all know are essential <br /> to our collective health and well - being. Indeed, with every additional square <br /> foot of land that is built on or paved over, there is a consequent loss of <br /> one square foot of soil in which plants can grow. <br /> In a follow -up letter to Mayor Torrey dated 26 February 1998, horticulturist <br /> and Eugene Tree Foundation member Dennis Lueck suggested that, to help <br /> compensate for these losses of greenery, we uncover areas that have already <br /> been paved over and where the pavement serves no useful purpose. Dennis <br /> included with his letter conceptual drawings that showed how parts of <br /> Willamette Street might be rehabilitated to provide extensive planting areas <br /> without affecting existing traffic circulation and parking. <br /> This past spring, Eugene Tree Foundation decided to begin planning for its <br /> first planting project in the downtown area. Not coincidentally, the 1200 <br /> block of Willamette Street was chosen. This project incorporates parts of <br /> Dennis's initial proposal along with additional innovations to help revitalize <br /> one of our downtown's most distressingly bleak blocks. <br /> The Foundation formed a special committee to work on what we have come to <br /> call The 1200 Willamette Project. Over the past several months, the <br /> committee has spent considerable time on -site as well as at drawing boards <br /> to prepare the plan that we submit to you today. <br /> The Plan <br /> The centerpiece (quite literally) of our plan is the proposed landscaped median <br /> that extends for most of the length of the 1200 block of Willamette. The <br /> north section of the median would supplant a currently unused center lane (as <br /> no turns are possible anyway between the 12th Avenue alley by PeaceHealth and <br /> the middle of the 1200 block); the south section would also supplant, for <br /> part of its length, an unnecessary center lane, while also establishing greenery <br /> where there is now just a left -turn lane for south -bound traffic turning onto <br /> East 13th Avenue. <br /> Other planting opportunities in this block include the opening up of short <br /> sections of the concreted park strip (four feet in width) and the simultaneous <br /> "bulbing out" of the curb at these points to create substantial planting areas. <br /> And on at least two sites (at the Kinko's "plaza" and just southeast of the <br /> entrance to Hungry Head Bookstore), trees can be planted on private property, <br /> too, further greening up this block. <br /> P. O. Box 12265 Eugene, Oregon 97440 <br /> Voicemail 541 431 4990 <br />