The question of what to do with Kesey Square in downtown Eugene has gotten a lot of attention lately. A developer proposed putting a new building there and the city is now looking for other ideas for the spot.
Kesey Square, also known as Broadway Plaza, was once the site of a building. In the 1970s it was torn down and the plaza is a relic of the city’s now defunct pedestrian mall.
Laurence: “This is not a request for proposals. This is a request for expressions of interest in Broadway Plaza.”
Nan Laurence is a Eugene Senior Planner. She says the city has tried many ways to make the space more attractive and put it into use, including a bookmobile, food carts and other activities.
Laurence: “When the space is activated and it comes alive, it’s just a fabulous place to be-- most of the time though, it’s pretty vacant. So we’re trying to figure out what’s the best activity, built form, programming that can happen in that space that really adds up to all of the work we’ve been doing downtown.”
Laurence says the city is taking expressions of interest for what to do with Kesey Square through January 15th.