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f N <br /> Cd(?'1 <br /> October 16, 1996 `► <br /> Elisabeth Walton Potter <br /> National Register Coordinator <br /> Oregon State Historic Preservation Office <br /> 1115 Commercial Street N.E. <br /> Salem, Oregon 97310 <br /> Dear Ms. Potter, <br /> Our office is in receipt of your letter dated October 8, 1996 which articulates SHPO concerns <br /> about placing a temporary toilet building prominently along Blair Boulevard, close to the West <br /> 5th Avenue entrance to the Blair Boulevard Historic Commercial Area. This letter will attempt <br /> to answer some of your questions and justify the immediate action. <br /> Because there are no permanent toilet facilities in the park unacceptable alternatives have <br /> occurred which have had a negative impact on the under -story and plant collection which is <br /> certainly part of the character of this small gardenesque public park, producing a negative <br /> response by park users. <br /> Currently the park is closed to the public, with the perimeter vegetation fenced from use. A staff <br /> team has recently been formed to work with a 17- member Department Advisory Committee <br /> (DAC) which will be working together to develop short and long range recommendations for the <br /> future use and appearance of Scobert Park. <br /> Other sites were discussed for the placement of the portable toilet, which has the advantage of <br /> being disabled accessible, but Mr. Tom Musselwhite of Project Recover, an informed social <br /> service provider in Eugene, offered the current location as a temporary solution for those in need. <br /> Portable toilets have also been placed at the corner of West 2nd Avenue and Chambers, in the <br /> vicinity of the Eugene Mission and at West 2nd Avenue and Lincoln, also in the Whiteaker <br /> neighborhood. <br /> Currently, inappropriate social behavior are having a negative impact on the integrity of the <br /> district, in that litter is becoming more common, and certain property owners are considering <br /> fencing alternatives to increase their feeling of personal security. I am one of many staff who <br /> will be working with the DAC in the months ahead to arrive at a solution for the park, which will <br /> hopefully be amenable to all the diverse interest groups. <br /> The city's agreement with Project Recover is for 90 days, and scheduled to expire around <br /> January 1, 1997. Please be assured that we are working with the houseless, property owners, <br /> business interests, and public service providers to arrive at some solutions which we hope will <br /> result in some positive direction for the park, the people, and this National Register listed historic <br />