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In 2001, General Services Administration selected
<br />the former Agripac Cannery property as the site fora ~ " ____
<br />new Federal Courthouse. This area of downtown, with
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<br />its aging industrial structures and underutilized land 4th Ave. r,.-„ .~.; i+..,
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<br />between the core of downtown Eugene and the ~`
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<br />Willamette River, was seen as a key redevelopment ' \
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<br />opportunity. The Federal Courthouse is an integral "h"
<br />component of the vision for this area, a new mixed use
<br />district along Eighth Avenue, leading from the heart of ~~
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<br />downtown to the river. Eas[~roadwa _ ---~
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<br />In July 2002 the Eugene City Council adopted a .; ~ ,,,
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<br />Concept Plan for the courthouse district
<br />based on four "`~ e
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<br />main project goals: University
<br />• create a special place around the courthouse; concept Plan Tice • Van Asperd[ • Dougherty
<br />• connect to the core of downtown;
<br />• contribute to the vitality of the core of downtown;
<br />• connect downtown to the river,
<br />in a memorable, accessible way.
<br />Currently, this area is isolated ~~' ; ~,
<br />from downtown by a large volume '
<br />of traffic, representing both local , ~' {~,
<br />trips to downtown and through ; ~
<br />traffic on state Hwy 99. Unbraiding ~ ~,~~ ''~
<br />this traffic has been key to the City's i ', sF'~
<br />urban design plan for this area. The '" H~"
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<br />plan focuses on providing new ~ , ,^ , ~~
<br />transportation routes and pedes- ~~,~; i ~~~~ ~~ ,-~-,t
<br />trian crossings to create a special ~'~„~'
<br />place by the new courthouse and to
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<br />make the connection between ~ ~ ~r'~44~+ r ~ ~l~ ;' "„
<br />downtown and the river, i.~, ~ °~ ,~,~
<br />Transportation improvements in ~ :'~~ ~ ~ '
<br />this area will benefit local and state
<br />transportation systems and the new
<br />Federal Courthouse neighborhood.
<br />Anew state route will carry west-
<br />bound traffic on the edge of down-
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<br />town. The downshift in required ~~ ~}
<br />capacity will allow Broadway to ~~ ~ ;~ ~ ~. ',,
<br />take on more of a main street r°~;~'"`~~~" ~` """ `"~` '` ~~`~~"
<br />character, with wider sidewalks and Courthouse District Illustrative Plan
<br />on-street parking. A new signal at
<br />Eighth and Mill will create a pedestrian path along the
<br />City's "civic street," past the Park Blocks, Lane County
<br />Courthouse, Eugene City Hall, the new Federal Court-
<br />house, and onto the edge of the Willamette River.
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