Downtown Riverfront

For the vertical development of the neighborhood, the City is working with Atkins Dame, Inc. (formerly Williams/Dame & Associates, WDA below) who have a tremendous amount of downtown and riverfront redevelopment experience. Atkins Dame has a commitment to, and track record of, developing high quality projects that create a unique sense of place and neighborhood. 

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In November 2020, Atkins Dame Inc. and the Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Eugene entered into a disposition and development agreement (DDA) that will guide development of the new neighborhood, including schedule and timing expectations, design requirements, and infrastructure investments. For more information on the development in the neighborhood visit The River District Eugene website. 

Atkins Dame started construction on the “Heartwood” project (Parcel 7) in August 2022. Located on 5th Avenue just east of the viaduct, this first building will be four stories with 95 market rate apartment homes. The project is expected to be completed in early 2024 and leasing information can be found at The Heartwood website. Construction on the “Portal” (Parcel 3B/3C), a new community with 130 market rate apartment homes, is scheduled to start in 2023. The Portal is located at the southwest intersection of 4th Avenue and Mill Street. Both projects are designed to the standards of Earth Advantage Gold and will exceed current energy codes. They are also designed to meet Fitwell 1-star compliance, a “healthy building” standard that includes amenities such as fitness rooms and bike racks. Construction will result in local job creation with minority, women and emerging small business (MWESB) enterprises. 

Below is a recap of major milestones with Atkins Dame:

• January 31, 2018 - Atkins Dame presented their initial vision and concepts for the Downtown Riverfront site to City Council. Watch a video of the presentation Opens a New Window.  or view the presentation slides Opens a New Window. .
• May 29, 2018 - the Urban Renewal Agency Board reviewed proposed terms of an agreement with WDA that would set the stage for the future redevelopment of the site. Watch a video of the work session Opens a New Window.  or view the presentation Opens a New Window. .
• July 9, 2018 - the Urban Renewal Agency Board approved the proposed terms with WDA. A webcast of the work session is available online here. Opens a New Window.  And, the agenda item summary is available here.
•  Opens a New WijanJanuary 24, 2019 - the Urban Renewal Agency entered into an initial Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) with WDA. For more information about the January 2019 DDA, view the press release or a summary of the DDA terms.
• September 23, 2019 - the Urban Renewal Agency approved changes to WDA’s concept plan to reflect an increased level of investment and number of residential units being developed. For more information you can view the revised concept plan or read the agenda item summary.
• May 26, 2020 - the Urban Renewal Agency approved changes to the terms of the agreement with WDA. Modifications were made to the affordable housing term (including location and flexibility on who develops it), timing on infrastructure cost sharing, sidewalk enhancements, and creating flexibility in the density, types of parking, and commercial areas associated with the planned development. For more information, you can read the agenda item summary or view the work session. 
• November 2020 - Atkins Dame and the Urban Renewal Agency entered into a new Disposition and Development Agreement, per the terms approved at the May 26, 2020 work session).
• March 2021 - Atkins Dame completed due diligence and indicated they plan to move forward with purchase of Downtown Riverfront properties. The developer provided a $4.5 million non-refundable deposit which will be used to support the phase 2 infrastructure.
• October 2021 - Atkins Dame completed purchase of the first set of several Riverfront parcels. 
• August 2022 - Atkins Dame began construction of the "Heartwood" project. 
• December 2022 - Atkins Dame completed purchase of the second set of Riverfront parcels. 

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Steam Plant Redevelopment  Opens a New Window. 

On April 24, 2019, the City's Urban Renewal Agency directed the Agency Director to enter negotiations with the development team led by Mark Miksis and Mark Frohnmayer, Dream Plant, for the redevelopment of the Steam Plant.  The Dream Plant team proposes to save and adaptively re-use the Steam Plant, transforming it into an iconic community destination that connects people with downtown and the Willamette River. 

Click here to view the team’s proposal.

The Agency Board approved terms for the sale and redevelopment of the Steam Plant on January 26, 2022, to the Dream Plant team (click here to view the work session materials and webcast). The terms included the use of Urban Renewal funds for asbestos abatement, systems development charges, and permit fees to support the project (estimated at $1.5 million). The Dream Plant team estimates that even after accounting for the Urban Renewal funds and their other sources of investment funds, the planned redevelopment has a remaining financial gap, which as of a year ago was estimated at over $5 million, due to significant cost escalations that impact the project feasibility. Staff continues to work with the Dream Plant team to identify funding for this gap, although at this time, both parties have exhausted all known potential leads for funding sources that could meaningfully reduce the gap including an unsuccessful request for funding from the state legislature. 

For more information on the project, visit www.eugene-or.gov/SteamPlant

One of the priorities the City heard most clearly in talking to the community about the future of parks and recreation is providing access to the river – for everything from recrea­tion to simply enjoying the views. The 3-acre Downtown Riverfront Park (phase 1) and 1-acre Plaza (phase 2) will be the heart of the greater riverfront development that re-imagines a new, vibrant future and will, once again, unite our city with the river. The Downtown Riverfront Park is all about making connections – not just to downtown, but up and down the Willamette River as part of the 12-mile riverfront path system. Across the Peter DeFazio Bridge, the Riverfront Park complements all the features of the 373-acre Alton Baker Park, making both sides of the river part of the community’s riverfront experience.

The conceptual design phase for phase 1 (the 3-acre linear park) was completed in fall 2018. Site preparation, including building demolition and riparian enhancement, took place in 2019. Construction to transform the industrial site into a vibrant Downtown Riverfront Park started in 2020 and was completed in June 2022.

In July 2021, it was announced the City would receive $5 million in State funding to help close a funding gap for the 2nd phase of the Downtown Riverfront Park, which includes the plaza and playground. Design of the plaza is currently underway. 

For up-to-date information on the Riverfront Park to find out you can get involved, please visit the Riverfront Park website. 

Redevelopment of the site has been a part of the community’s vision for decades, reinforced through numerous public engagement opportunities over several years. We know how important this site is to the community and we want the community to not only understand what is being proposed, but to also have an opportunity to weigh in.

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