Four groups have expressed interest in developing a 27-acre tract along the Willamette River in Eugene. Eugene Water and Electric Board envisions a vibrant, mixed-use "people place" at their Riverfront site.
EWEB has moved most of its operations to West Eugene and has been working for years on a vision for the property along the Willamette River. Jeanine Parisi is Community Relations Coordinator at EWEB. She says choosing a developer is a key step in transforming the riverfront from an industrial site to something else.
Parisi: "Most of that vision has to do with a clear, articulated connection between downtown and our river. And in a way that's a green, mixed-use, urban, dynamic, fun, vibrant place where lots of people say they want to bring their family and actually have a beer on the river."
The four groups that responded to EWEB's Request for Qualifications are the University of Oregon Foundation, Paradigm Properties of Eugene, and two Portland-based firms: Trammel Crow Company, and Williams and Dame Development. The proposals were submitted Friday. Parisi says the groups will present their plans to EWEB's board and the public in July. A firm could be chosen by the end of summer.