Final Environmental Impact Statement - New Federal Courthouse

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Comments and Responses-Letter 5 5. Charles Biggs After the issuance of the draft EIS, '_ the EWEB site alternatives (4A and 4B) were deemed impractical and have been eliminated from further consideration. Alternative site 4A was deemed impractical because of its proximity to the Skinner Butte Historic District. Alternative 4B was eliminated from further consideration because it lies within the 500-Year Floodplain for the Willamette River. 5.1--Comment acknowledged 5.2-Comment acknowledged. It should also be noted that EWEB has recently installed a ground water heat exchanger in the energy outlet building (referred to as the Midgely building in the draft EIS), to provide heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. Given the cost of installing the heat exchanger, acquisition of the building with this investment would cost even more than otherwise would be the case. 5.3-Comment acknowledged; the visual quality of the site is addressed in the aesthetics section of the draft EIS. Letter S John Meerseheidt From: chedes Biggs (chades_bigga~hohn3i.can] Sant Surday, October 28, 2080 1:58 PM To: lneetadteidl~hxrerafnc.mm Sub]ect: oupene tederd couthouse site selection eelectioa Committee llenbera, 6.1 fiver since t have seen the visual ainnrlaced desa.goa. I find aeyseit caning back to the least represented ni to whlcD la the Neatern H"8PB ai[e. The site is loC6.ted within easy walking distance of the existing Federal 8uildiag and jail reducing inereaaed car nu lea travel and adjacent to existing eateries ac stn Street Market. Also there is gcoat. potential in creating ytdeaezian access to the river Dy a diagonal pack across the Bice to the 6NSB plan and potential further pedestrSaa connections could 6e developed along the north aide of the railroad tracks to the Earner sxse Dog Eual pile to envisioned plasa along the river during the Ferry street Bridge Design study L S,Q tonceptua7.7.y agreed to try EM®1. Although rho cooly loan of the Eaasgy Outlet bulldiag nay seem initially too coat ly to 1tNtle the .taanediatn accsaa to abundant aortae Iota for efeher parking or urban development nakea this site dealrable as an urban imputes for the area and if carefully plamed a ti.3 welcomed neighbor. Yinual acceaa to the bvildiag from the north as one entere the city weld meke. this this an excel3ehC landmark for aiteinq the courthouse and dual access poises from either 4th oc 6th street from the noxch wrka veil with tcatfic impacts. Ten zemainiag sits adjacent the railroad tracks could act •s a vleual terminus Eor 5th street be it art or a 6.4 phYeieal atNCCUre. the only poeeatial negat lve impact mould be ^he scab sad vlaua7 blockage to Skimerv Butte ae rellao the 6lstoric district but 1f computer mofleling coultl be done to insure compatiDilicy ;chink Chia site has more potential than meets the eye. Sincerely Charaec eiggc p.B. Ttu Rise building mould De a comQac able neighbor further ensuring aiteing context. 5.4-The draft EIS analysis concludes that the scale and visual blockage of Skinner Butte and the historic district are potentially adverse impacts. The proximity of the Alternative 4A EWEB site to the Skinner Butte historic district is the primary reason this site has been eliminated from further consideration. Additionally, the city of Eugene restricts the height of buildings in this area to minimize visual impacts relating to Skinner Butte and the Skinner Butte historic district. Although the GSA, as a federal agency, is not required to comply with local regulations, they recognize that the height restriction is intended to avoid visual impacts and concluded that the height restriction would constrain the site and reduce the design flexibility. --- t Your private, Fres a-soil. trap MSN Notmail at htep: Jww.hotmail.com. Share SnforeutSoa about yourself, create your ow public profile at http://pmfiles.man.coa. . New Federal Courthouse 175 Final E1S