City entertains idea for new housing.

Byline: Randi Bjornstad The Register-Guard

More affordable housing may be coming downtown Eugene's way, and it might be a good idea for future tenants to develop an appreciation for the eclectic musical styles - rock, punk, reggae, ska - favored by their next-door neighbor-to-be.

The city has acquired a little less than an acre of land in the 200 block of West Eighth Avenue, adjacent to the Community Center for the Performing Arts, better known as the WOW Hall.

The parcel, bought from Wells Fargo Bank for $560,000, could accommodate as many as 30 units of affordable apartment units, as well as commercial development on the ground floor, said Tom Coyle, executive director of the city's planning and development department.

Because money from the federal Community Development Block Grant program paid for acquisition, at least 51 percent of the units must be designated as permanent rental housing for low-income tenants.

The only possible hitch stems from the WOW Hall's use of a small area just behind its building - part of the city purchase - for parking and loading equipment before and after performances, Coyle said.

"We can't say yes or no to that before we get development proposals for the property," he said. "It's not a lot of space - probably not more than 3,000 square feet altogether - but we have to make sure that wouldn't preclude a proper design of the project."

In the meantime, the WOW Hall has formed a "Back Lot Committee" to represent the music hall's interests with the city, said Abe Nielsen, the facility's program manager.

"We're trying to purchase the back lot - that would be our first choice," Nielsen said. "The people at the city have assured us that they're looking out for our best interests in preserving our access - that would be our back-up plan."

Besides the "back lot," the site includes old parking lots and a dilapidated building last used by Goodwill Industries for a thrift store about 15 years ago.

Locating an apartment development next to a performing arts center shouldn't create any problems for future residents, Coyle said.

Building materials and architectural designs can reduce nearby noise effectively, "and when you get into multifamily construction situations, it doesn't seem to be as much of a problem," he said.

Interested developers will be asked to submit design proposals sometime this summer, with an eye to maximizing housing density and also accommodating the WOW Hall's parking needs. Construction could begin as soon as next spring.