LCC may ask for building bonds.

Byline: Greg Bolt The Register-Guard

Lane Community College could become a player in the effort to revitalize downtown Eugene if it goes ahead with plans to seek voter approval of bonds that would, among other projects, allow it to raze and rebuild its Willamette Street building.

It's just an idea at this point, but LCC board members are exploring a possible bond sale next year that could finance that project along with upgrades to several buildings on the main campus. And the downtown building could turn into something bigger: a multistory structure with housing or other space above the classrooms to draw more people to the area.

A redo of the two-story Downtown Center, a 1920s era retail building ill-suited for classrooms, has been on LCC's wish list for many years. What's reviving the idea now is the upcoming retirement of $42 million in bonds voters approved in 1995; that debt will be paid off in 2009.

Greg Morgan, LCC's associate vice president for finance, said a new levy would be set at the same tax rate people are paying now. But because the value and amount of taxable property in the LCC district has grown since 1995, officials estimate that a new levy at the same tax rate would generate a lot more, about $80 million.

The Downtown Center, across Willamette Street from the bus mall and near the corner of East 11th Avenue, is likely to be the only new construction on the list. Rather than put up new buildings, LCC wants to use most of the money to repair, upgrade and extend the life of its existing buildings.

On the main campus, that means fixing roofs, putting in a new central heating and cooling plant, replacing old pumps and valves, and repairing old concrete and asphalt. Some buildings also need partial remodels to meet modern education needs.

That's not as sexy as new construction, but the college hopes voters will be willing to make an investment in the existing buildings as a less expensive alternative to starting new. The Springfield School District used a similar approach last year and won approval of a $42.7 million levy, and LCC officials are looking at that effort for tips.

But the Downtown Center is too far gone for upgrades, Morgan said. Although it's remembered by many as Eugene's one-time Montgomery Ward store, renovations over the years have erased most of its original look and historic value.

And the big beige box just doesn't work as a college center, Morgan said. Should the bond measure go on the ballot and succeed, LCC almost certainly would tear it down and start over.

"It's a retail box built 80 years ago," he said. "It's been patched over a few times, but at some point, some things just are cheaper to replace."

The building is plagued by leaks, exposed plumbing, inefficient layout and energy systems, and lack of modern technology. It's also a confusing maze of hallways, closets turned into offices and oddly configured classrooms.

One basement room has a tall wastebasket in one corner to catch water from a leak no one has been able to trace, and another has air ducts so low that anyone taller than 5 feet 5 inches has to duck to avoid a knot on the forehead. Pretty much all of them are held together with modern equivalents of baling wire and twine.

"I think we use four different kinds of carpet and two types of duct tape," said Jeff Davis, director of LCC's continuing education program, which is based at the Downtown Center. The program offers a variety of skills training, hobby classes, adult education and foreign language classes.

But that's not the only reason the college wants a new building. With such a key location, officials see opportunities to join with other organizations and help in the effort to draw more people into a moribund downtown.

Morgan said no favored plan has taken shape. But possibilities the college wants to explore include building taller and adding some kind of housing, perhaps aimed at low-income people or seniors, or adding space for other community or business uses.

First-floor retail also is a possibility, although with all the empty stores that doesn't seem to be a high-priority need downtown. The idea, Morgan said, is to both do more with the site and perhaps reduce LCC's costs by attracting partners to the project.

"It's such a key location," he said. "We're just in the brainstorming stage, but we're thinking we ought to be able to do something more than what we do now."

Davis said just creating modern space designed for college programs will go a long way toward making the building even more of a downtown magnet.

A new building will allow up-to-date broadband connections, distance learning classrooms and maybe a small kitchen for culinary classes, not to mention appropriate seismic protection, handicap access and energy efficiency.

Even with only a small increase in size, more efficient use of space will make a big difference in what the building can offer. That in turn will make it more attractive to potential students and help draw people downtown.

"What we have here is this treasure, this amazing asset as a location," Davis said. "I think we're well on the way to something special here."