The first 16-foot cedar slat was removed from the condemned Eugene City Hall Wednesday. City leaders held a ceremony marking the beginning of deconstruction of the 50-year old building. Construction of a new City Hall is slated to begin in 2015.
Mayor Kitty Piercy was flanked by sign-holding protestors as she addressed the small assembly.
Piercy: "And I just might say, how could you celebrate a milestone in the civic history of our community without controversy. It's part of who we are as a participatory community."
It's been more than 10 years and there have been many proposals for how to cope with the aging structure that is not earthquake safe or architecturally welcoming. Still, many in the community say the city hall building should be re-purposed. That includes long time Eugene resident Sharon Potisha. She's seen the city tear down historic downtown buildings in the past. She thinks the existing city hall should be renovated.
Potisha: "If the building were not razed, they would not have to spend the amount of money it would take to tear it down."
The event included drumming from members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde. They will help architects transform the cedar slats that adorn the outside of the current structure. Eugene plans to reuse 95 percent of the materials in the new city hall.