The Lane County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday to move forward with plans to turn 0.74 acres of fairground land into affordable housing.
The commissioners voted 4-1 to turn four county owned tax lots, located near 13th and Tyler St. in Eugene, into permanent supportive housing. The lots are currently used by the Lane Events Center for overflow parking and camping.
By passing the motion on Tuesday, the county expects to use funding from Oregon Housing and Community Services to help complete the project. That factored into Councilor Jay Bozievich’s no vote.
“I believe we’re making a grave error, I believe we’re making that error chasing money for a grant. We’re permanently disposing of public property from one use to another without having sufficient master planning done," he said.
Bozievich called for more time to seek other options. The the housing units will be used specifically for women and children. It also helps fulfill the TAC report, a housing study, in its recommendation to build 350 units within 5 years.
