New Search
Aesthetics <br />The Riverfront site lies between a residential area and Island Park in Springfield. The scale of <br />the proposed courthouse would be substantially larger than the scale of existing and new <br />development in this area, and a federal courthouse could be visually different than the structures <br />in the area. The new courthouse may block view corridors to Island Park from portions of Mill <br />and Main streets and may substantially alter the easterly views from Island Park. <br />The proposed building under Alternative 1, Option A would be placed between Main Street and <br />West B Street and would require the removal of the businesses on the west side of Mill Street <br />between Main Street and West A Street. The removal of these buildings may result in <br />opportunities for landscaping and may open up views of Island Park from the southeast. <br />The proposed building under Alternative 1, Option B would be placed between West A Street <br />and West B Street and would not require the removal of businesses on Mill Street between Main <br />Street and West A Street. The proposed building under Alternative 1, Option B would have less <br />open space around it than under Alternative 1, Option A, which would result in limited <br />landscaping opportunities. Therefore, the site under Alternative 1, Option B would have less <br />potential to open up new views to Island Park from the southwest. Also, due to a smaller <br />footprint, the proposed building under Alternative 1, Option B may be taller than the building <br />under Alternative 1, Option A. <br />In the early morning hours, particularly during summer months, the new courthouse may reflect <br />sunlight on the mixed-use and residential buildings located north and east of this site. The <br />courthouse may also cast shadows on small portions of Island Park during morning hours during <br />most months of the year. Conversely, during the late afternoon hours, the new courthouse may <br />reflect sunlight in the direction of Island Park while casting shadows over the residential area <br />east of Mill Street. The new courthouse exterior and interior lighting may also result in <br />significant light and glare impacts on the residential areas north and east of this site. <br />Alternative 2, Option A (Preferred Alternative) and Option S <br />Figure 9 shows the locations of the two photographic viewpoints for Alternative 2, options A and <br />B. Figures 14 and 15 present photographs of existing conditions at the site, along with <br />photographic simulations of the same views including the proposed courthouse building, for <br />comparison. Alternative 2, Option A and Alternative 2, Option B do not have different <br />photographic simulations, because these options would look the same from the shown angle. As <br />stated above, because design of the courthouse site and building would not begin until a <br />preferred site is selected, the photographic simulations are conceptual representations that <br />do not indicate the actual building design, footprint, precise location, surface treatment, or <br />landscaping. <br />The Chiquita site (formerly Agripac) lies between the Willamette River and East Broadway in an <br />area east of Eugene's downtown core, and is surrounded by low-rise commercial and industrial <br />areas. In general, a new courthouse on this site would result in little visual impact because of <br />other similar-sized buildings in Eugene. The scale of the new courthouse would be larger than <br />the scale of new and existing development in this area and would be somewhat less visually <br />compatible with the older industrial structures, such as the art deco electric plant located <br />Fina! EIS 82 New Federal Courthouse <br />