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Socioeconomics <br />Operation of the proposed courthouse is not expected to increase the population of Eugene, <br />Springfield, or Lane County. The size of the proposed facility is based on projections of the <br />number of courtrooms required to adjudicate the growing number of cases handled by the federal <br />courts in Eugene. The new courthouse would not affect case load growth or increase the staff of <br />agencies housed at the new courthouse. The proposed facility would allow for consolidation of <br />activities currently housed in leased space elsewhere in Eugene. The. addition of 265,000 square <br />feet of new office space would create a minor increase in employment for additional <br />maintenance and housekeeping staff. These positions are likely to be filled locally and would <br />not increase the population of the area or the demand for housing. <br />Commercial Properties <br />Alternative 1, Option A <br />Developing the Riverfront site under Alternative 1, option A would reduce the amount of <br />commercial/retail space in the city of Springfield and displace the Island Park medical offices, as <br />well as four other businesses. Given the low vacancy rate for commercial properties, finding <br />available space from the existing stock of commercial properties may be problematic. However, <br />the low vacancy rate indicates a weak demand for commercial space in Springfield, and <br />relocating businesses may provide sufficient incentive for additional commercial properties to be <br />built. Additionally, the McKenzie-Willamette Hospital management has expressed a desire to <br />work with the city of Springfield in assisting displaced medical businesses to relocate in the <br />Mohawk corridor (a designated medical node within the hospital overlay zone), less than a mile <br />from their current locations at the Riverfront site (Orr 2000 personal communication). <br />If the Riverfront site is selected for construction of the proposed courthouse, impacts on <br />commercial space are not expected to be significant. <br />Alternative 1, Option B <br />,. _ Developing the Riverfront site under Alternative 1, option B would reduce the amount of <br />', commercial space in Springfield by displacing most of the Island Park medical offices. The <br />Island Park building located south of West A Street, however, would remain and be functional as <br />~ _ aself-contained business. The other four businesses, Bright Oak Meats, At Home, Inc., Norm's <br />Auto Repair, and Ruthie B's, would not be displaced. The impacts on commercial properties <br />~~' from this option would be less than under Alternative 1, option A. <br />However, if Alternative 1, option B is selected, it is likely that the new federal courthouse would <br />induce other redevelopment in the surrounding area, and existing businesses could be indirectly <br />displaced by more lucrative enterprises. Under this scenario, property owners could sell and <br />enjoy the economic benefit. Businesses that rent space may be forced to find alternative space, <br />possibly without relocation assistance, if the owners sell or raise rents in response to increasing <br />property values. <br />New Federal Courthouse 113 Final EIS <br />