New Search
Apri130, 1996 <br /> NEWS RELEASE <br /> From Phil Weiler, Public Information Analyst <br /> City Manager's Office, 341-5823 <br /> MAYOR TO JACKHAMMER DOWNTOWN MALL FOUNTAIN <br /> Fulfilling one of her campaign promises from 1992, Eugene Mayor Ruth Bascom will <br /> begin demolishing the fountain in the center of Eugene's pedestrian mall during a news <br /> conference on Monday, May 13 at 10 a.m. Mayor Bascom's event will officially mark the <br /> beginning of the construction project to reopen Willamette Street to motorized traffic. <br /> During the news conference, the Mayor will receive a $100,000 check from Downtown <br /> Eugene, Inc. (DEI), to help pay for improvements to the street and plaza. Downtown Eugene <br /> Inc., committed to raising $100,000 from its members in the downtown business community to <br /> aid in the reconstruction effort. <br /> DEI will highlight the significant changes slated for downtown during an open house <br /> following the news conference. The open house will feature displays and other information on a <br /> number of downtown projects. Examples include the Lane Transit District transfer station which <br /> will be built at 10th Avenue and Willamette Street; the parking garages to be built on Pearl <br /> Street; the apartment building scheduled for High Street; the apartments and parking garage to be <br /> construction at Broadway and Charnleton Street; and others. The open house will take place on <br /> the mall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. <br /> In 1970, Eugene joined the trend in a number of other U.S. cities by closing its downtown <br /> streets to traffic and creatin a edestrian mall. In 1992 the citizens of Eu ene voted to redesi n <br /> g p g g <br /> <br /> the mall by reopening Olive Street to traffic. Three years later, voters approved a measure to <br /> reopen Willamette Street and to construct a civic plaza at the intersection of Broadway and <br /> Willamette Street. <br /> <br />