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Project Alternatives <br />This EIS examines three project alternatives: two action alternatives and a no-action alternative. <br />The two action alternatives include the design and construction of a federal courthouse facility <br />within the city limits of either Eugene or Springfield, Oregon. The facility would include <br />approximately 265,290 square feet of gross building area to accommodate the 10-year growth <br />needs of the federal courts and court-related services. The alternative sites considered in the <br />final EIS are shown in Figure 1. <br />The no-action alternative assumes the continued use of the existing federal building/courthouse, <br />supplemented by leased space throughout downtown Eugene. The no-action alternative is used <br />as a baseline to compare impacts of the action alternatives to current conditions. <br />Alternative 1, Options A and B <br />The GSA is considering two siting options for placement of the proposed courthouse building on <br />the Alternative 1 (Riverfront) site in Springfield. Option A is bordered by West B Street, Mill <br />Street, Main Street, and the boundary of Island Park (Figure 2). This site covers 196,000 square <br />feet (4.5 acres). (Although this site originally was delineated to include an area north of West B <br />Street, establishing the northern site boundary at West B Street would provide sufficient space <br />and reduce impacts.) The site is zoned downtown mixed use and is covered by the city's <br />downtown refinement plan. <br />The Alternative 1, option A site is currently used by the Island Park medical/dental complex and <br />other businesses (Figure 3). Island Park is located west of the site. The surrounding area <br />currently has amixed-use character consisting of modern and historic buildings, including <br />single- and multifamily residences and a variety of businesses. The Springfield transit station is <br />located four blocks east of the site at West B and 5~' streets. <br />The Alternative 1, option A site meets the operational requirements of the courts and has direct <br />' access to principal arterials and the Springfield transit station. Alternative 1, option A would <br />accommodate the long-range (30-year) needs of the federal courts. <br />Development of the Alternative 1, option A site would require the removal of the Island Park <br />medical/dental buildings and four additional businesses. No residential structures are located on <br />this site. <br />Alternative 1, option B is similar to Alternative 1, option A, except that only the Island Park <br />Partnership properties located north of West A Street would be acquired for the courthouse <br />project. The one Island Park Partnership property located south of West A Street as well as the <br />other parcels located south of West A Street would not be acquired under Alternative 1, option B <br />(Figure 3). Alternative 1, option B covers 115,870 square feet (2.66 acres). This smaller site <br />.option would reduce impacts. Alternative 1, option B is a refinement of Alternative 1 addressed <br />in the draft EIS. <br />New Federal Courthouse 23 Final EIS <br />