Building in Eugene supported by officials.

Byline: Bill Bishop The Register-Guard

CORRECTION (ran 9/25/03): A front page story about the federal courthouse project Wednesday erroneously reported that public hearings are scheduled for a draft environmental impact statement on the construction. The document was approved in 2000. No hearings are scheduled.

Local elected officials are circling their wagons in support of the Eugene site for the new $70 million federal courthouse.

The General Services Administration hasn't begun considering other places for the landmark building since announcing a delay in the project last week, but spokesman Peter Gray said Tuesday: "It does not preclude us from doing that in the future."

Springfield isn't being courted as a possible alternative, Springfield Mayor Sid Leiken said.

Leiken has pledged support to Eugene Mayor Jim Torrey and said he offered to help in any way possible to keep the project alive in Eugene.

"It really doesn't make a lot of sense to reopen this," Leiken said.

The project is too far along for the GSA to consider another site, he said.

"Not that Springfield would ever not be interested. But I think we're past that," Leiken said. A site east of Island Park and north of Main Street was considered by the GSA as a courthouse site until late in 2000.

Eugene bought the current courthouse project site - the former Agripac cannery property east of downtown - in October 2000, and has agreed to sell it to the GSA for at least $3.5 million.

Negotiations for the sale were almost final when GSA officials delayed the talks, saying they had unspecified problems with parking, road configuration and future development at the site. The federal agency oversees more than 8,000 government-owned and leased buildings in 2,000 cities.

The GSA has now submitted a more detailed request to Eugene for information on development plans in and around the site, Gray said. The agency wants the city to express its commitment, in writing, for street construction, parking and future development there, Gray said.

But a controversy over lack of a wheelchair ramp in the courthouse design continues to overshadow the planning issues. Gray has said the issue creates a feeling that the community doesn't support the project.

Lane County Commissioner Bill Dwyer said he believes that the GSA is trying to strong-arm the community into accepting the courthouse design as-is, and giving up the push for a ramp that might mire the design.

"I think they're trying to punish the community for insisting on equal access," Dwyer said.

He will urge the Board of Commissioners today to ask the area's congressional delegation to demand a complete accounting for the delay from GSA, he said. Dwyer speculated that the GSA is using hardball tactics because the courthouse design already has begun to win architectural accolades and officials don't want to change it.

"There is a lack of community support to preserve their ego," Dwyer said. "I think the key is the congressional delegation. The GSA needs to be reprimanded. We need a strong letter to tell them we're dismayed at this reaction to the citizens who want to have equal access. We're not going to be blackmailed."

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., sent a letter Tuesday to the GSA asking for a detailed explanation for the delay. He requested a response within two days, spokesman Geoff Stuckart said.

Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., also has pledged to investigate whether the GSA delayed the project to quell the public call for a wheelchair ramp.

Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., hasn't yet intervened because he has not been asked, spokesman Chris Matthews said.

Leiken said he doesn't believe that the ramp is playing a part in the delay. He and Torrey both have long friendships with Jon Kvistad, the GSA regional administrator in Auburn, Wash. Leiken said he doubts Kvistad would deceive him and Torrey about the reason for the delay and use it as a political weapon against ramp advocates.

" I don't think he would want to cause friendships to dissolve because literally, that is what it would cause," Leiken said.

While local officials worry about the future of the project, it goes on in other arenas.

Public meetings are planned for later this week in Eugene and Springfield to solicit comments on a draft environmental impact statement for the construction.

Meanwhile, Heery International, an Atlanta-based construction management firm has signed a $1.3 million deal to work on the Eugene courthouse. The firm provides construction specialists to smooth out problems that arise between architects and builders.

The Eugene project will be the firm's 20th courthouse, spokeswoman Martha Pacini said. She said the delay in the project isn't out of the ordinary.

"We don't get nervous about things," she said. "It is the nature of the beast with large public projects. There are all manner of things that can cause a project to go on hold. As many as you can think of. They hit speed bumps. Most of them just continue on."