EUGENE (KMTR) – The groundbreaking ceremony celebrating the start of Lane Community College’s new downtown campus was standing room only today.
The event started at 10:30 at the Eugene Public Library, where LCC President Mary Spilde, Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy, State Representative Peter Defazio, US Senator Jeff Merkley and more spoke on behalf of the contributors to the project.
At 11:15, the crowd walked across the street to the corner of 10th and Charnelton, where they “broke ground” for a new facility. Shortly after, the city hosted a public reception.
The downtown “pit” has been an eye sore since 2005. In 2008, voters approved a $9 million dollar bond for the college and planning for a new center was underway.
Their current downtown center, according to President Spilde, is unsuitable. It will be vacated when the project is completed and open in fall 2012, but will not be abandoned. The college is looking into making it a business “incubator” for private business owners looking to move into commercial space. Other alternatives will likely be introduced in the future.
Mayor Kitty Piercy, who was more than enthused to participate with her specialized shovel, says the city is delighted to introduce the new facility. They provided $8 million dollars toward the total $53 million dollar project anticipating a well-structured symbol for the community.
“We believe that having this great facility and all the things that will come with it, the kind of businesses it can help grow and this kind of revitalization for downtown - it makes the investment on our part and the partnership on our behalf so much more worth while,” Piercy said.
As a model for future buildings, LCC’s new facility will be more than 100,000 square feet and LEED certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) meaning it aims to reduce CO2 emissions, save water and energy and overall betters the environment.
“Aside from the jobs, aside from the quality of the building, aside from filling the pit and all the things we’ve already talked about, I think it's very symbolic of who Eugene is.”
About 250 people will be able to live in the apartment units as well. LCC students are given a bus pass through the school but if parking is needed, more than 700 parking spots will be available by Broadway Place through the city. Some commuting may be necessary to and from the main campus, but it will be of easier access downtown for those in various programs. Laboratories will also be available, as will merchants on the ground floor and a variety of meetings rooms.
Financially, LCC is short about $5 million dollars. More on the financial aspect of this project can be found
here.
