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I <br /> October 10, 2003 <br /> Jon Kvistad <br /> Regional Administrator <br /> US General Services Administration <br /> 400 15~' Street, SW <br /> Auburn, WA 98001 <br /> <br /> ~ Dear Mr. Kvistad: <br /> The City of Eugene is pleased to be working with the GSA to realize the mutually held goal of <br /> constructing the new Federal Courthouse in Downtown Eugene. As you know, the City has been <br /> working diligently on this project for over two years, particularly since the GSA selected the site <br /> and the City and the GSA entered into the Memorandum of Agreement in March 2001. Much <br /> has been accomplished in this time; including the acquisition and assembly of the site requested <br /> by the GSA and the demolition and clearing of improvements. To date, the City has expended in <br /> excess of $6.7 million to acquire and prepare the site. The City is very anxious to complete the <br /> sale transaction for the property and move forward with the development of the Courthouse, the <br /> construction of associated infrastructure improvements, and the redevelopment of the Courthouse <br /> District. <br /> This letter is the City's response to the GSA's recent announcement delaying the property <br /> acquisition and Mr. Daniel Brown's e-mail clarifying the concerns that led to the GSA's <br /> announcement. In Mr. Brown's a-mail, he cites three major areas of concern to the GSA: <br /> funding for transportation infrastructure, Courthouse District access, and Courthouse District <br /> development. <br /> Transportation Infrastructure <br /> The City has been working on the redesign and funding of the transportation improvements in <br /> and around the Courthouse District since 2001. The goals of this work are to create a strong <br /> pedestrian connection between the Courthouse area and the downtown core and to provide <br /> enhanced vehicular circulation through the Courthouse area. <br /> The project has been presented in two phases. Phase 1 consists of improvements to the portion <br /> of 8t'' Avenue fronting the Courthouse, the construction of Feny Street between 8t'' Avenue to the <br /> railroad tracks, and a portion of new roadway from the north end of Ferry Street west to meet 6`~ <br /> Avenue. Phase 1 improvements are projected at $1.7 million. Phase 2 improvements will <br /> complete westbound Highway 99 along the south side of the railroad tracks and the pedestrian <br /> crossing at 8"'Avenue and Mill Street. Phase 2 improvements are projected at $5.9 million. The <br /> full build-out is projected to cost $7.6 million. The City is planning to construct both phases <br /> during the construction season of 2005. This schedule has been moved up to coincide with the <br /> Page 1 <br /> <br />