Eugene gets green light on UO Autzen Complex expansion deal terms

Eugene officials have given staff the green light to proceed with a purchase and sale agreement with the University of Oregon that would allow for the expansion of the Autzen Stadium Complex.

Councilors voted 7-1 Monday night to authorize City Manager Sarah Medary to enter an agreement with UO that’s consistent with terms including a land swap, the university paying for new parking areas and improvements to existing parking and the bridge across the canal.

UO announced plans in October 2021 to expand the Autzen Complex to accommodate a new, 170,000-square-foot indoor football practice facility and two outdoor practice fields that would include the reconfiguration of Leo Harris Parkway and the area adjacent to the Autzen Complex.

To build the two outdoor fields, the university wants land from Eugene’s Alton Baker Park and right-of-way in the area as part of a land swap for acreage UO owns on the south side of the river next to Downtown Riverfront Park.

Staff first presented the proposal to the council last summer and said the deal points reflect mitigation and concerns officials raised during the initial discussion.

Most of the mitigation centers around parkland and the loss of dozens of parking spots that serve Alton Baker Park, the Cuthbert Amphitheater and the Eugene Science Center, said Denny Braud, the city’s planning and development director.

The current terms could mean the addition of more than 300 parking spaces, he said, and bring other benefits, such as river access for potential recreation on property adjacent to Downtown Riverfront Park.

“We’ve heard a lot from people that they want to be able to go to the river and get to the river and touch the river,” Braud said. “On this downtown side of the river, there just aren’t that many access points.”

Officials were supportive of moving forward but expressed concerns about potential impacts on the Science Center.

The deal has benefits for a lot of people, Councilor Jennifer Yeh said, but she doesn’t think that includes the Science Center.

“I don’t think they’re winning here,” Yeh said. “I think they’re barely being made whole, which is a big concern.”

4 acres from Alton Baker Park area for 8 acres south of the river

Under terms presented Monday, the city would give UO the parking area supporting Alton Baker Park and the Eugene Science Center and some right-of-way, around four acres in total, to allow the realignment of Leo Harris Parkway.

In exchange, the university will give Eugene eight acres alongside the south bank of the Willamette River, just south of the newly opened Downtown Riverfront Park near UO's Knight Campus.

The properties have “pretty comparable value,” Braud said, and having more property on the downtown side of the Willamette “presents exciting opportunities.”

The land swap means losing around 230 parking spaces, Braud said, but the terms the council approved account for replacement parking.

UO would be responsible for:

• Constructing new parking north and east of the Science Center

• Improving the gravel parking area east of the bridge over the canoe canal

• Providing a new, accessible parking area next to Cuthbert Amphitheater

• Working with the Science Center to ensure the center doesn’t lose game day parking revenue

The university also would pay to realign Leo Harris Parkway and improve the bridge over the canoe canal, contribute $1 million to a yet-to-be-determined project within the Alton Baker Park area, agree to the use of existing UO parking for events and make the facilities available for emergency use.

The city will review designs for parking and other improvements included in the swap. That doesn’t include the land the new indoor facility will go on, Braud clarified, since the university already owns that property.

The city and university will work together on a phasing plan that minimizes impacts on parking, vehicle traffic and pedestrian access to Alton Baker Park, Cuthbert Amphitheater and the Science Center, Braud added. That will include having replacement parking in place before removing any spaces for facility construction, he said.

City may purchase more riverfront land:Eugene eyes former EWEB headquarters for new city hall

Closing on the land swap also won’t happen until the university is ready to build and until the city can amend the Science Center’s lease to account for the changes, he said.

“They are anxious right now because we have not done that amendment yet, and so I think their biggest concerns right now are really around making sure they have room to expand, room to program and that their parking needs are met,” Braud said of the Science Center.

Councilors have concerns but think city, university can work it out

Councilors expressed some concerns and said they understand consternation about the deal and its potential impacts on the Science Center.

But they also saw potential benefits and said they think the city and university can work through concerns.

Councilor Greg Evans said he didn’t have many issues with the terms and asked Braud if the city is getting a “value-for-value exchange” under the proposed terms.

Braud said staff likely “wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think this was a good deal for the city” and worked with UO to “make sure we can get all the impacts mitigated but also get a few other things that benefit the community.”

Terms presented Monday include “a lot of public benefits,” Councilor Alan Zelenka said, especially compared to the university’s initial proposal.

The city will get twice as much parkland, he said, and a “substantial increase” in parking.

“Yes, there are still some concerns, but I think we should go forward with it,” Councilor Emily Semple said. “I actually think it’s pretty exciting.”

Though Yeh raised concerns about the Science Center, she said before a vote that while she was “a little picky on the details and a little grumpy,” she thinks the city and UO can get to a place where everyone wins.

Councilor Randy Groves agreed he’s concerned about the Science Center but also confident things will work out.

“We have a longstanding, good partnership with the University of Oregon. They are important to our community,” Groves said. “They are a big piece of our identity as a city, and I believe that we are getting good value for our community and our residents from this proposed deal.”

Councilor Matt Keating voted against the terms, saying he has some “heartburn” over the vague nature of the project getting the $1 million contribution and is “dubious” about the university’s stated reasons for needing the new facilities.

What’s next?

City staff will continue negotiating with the university.

Council must vote to approve any final purchase and sale agreement.

Contact city government watchdog Megan Banta at mbanta@registerguard.com. Follow her on Twitter @MeganBanta_1.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Eugene officials OK deal terms of UO Autzen Complex expansion