Introduction

The City of Eugene is requesting a statement of qualifications from consultant groups for the Public Involvement and Concept Design of Eugene's Town Square: a combination of Park Blocks, Farmers' Market and City Hall at the center of downtown Eugene. The goal of this project is to develop a finalized concept plan with an overarching narrative through collaboration with City staff, the City's Owner's Representative and other consultants, the community, and key stakeholders. The plan will embrace the opportunity to create a Town Square that embraces Eugene's community, culture, history, values and civics.

Project Background

The City of Eugene and Lane County are working together to accommodate the current and future needs of Eugene's City Hall and the Lane County Farmers' Market around Eugene's Park Blocks. The vision is to locate efficient and accessible government services, provide a permanent location for a year-round public farmers' market, create a central gathering space for both the immediate neighborhood and broader community, strengthen 8th Avenue as downtown's connection to the river, and continue the momentum of downtown revitalization.

In 2016, the City Council negotiated the purchase of County land (today's "Butterfly" parking lot at Oak and 8th) as a location for the Farmers' Market and City Hall. The Council also amended the city's Downtown Urban Renewal Plan to include improvements to the Park Blocks and permanent, year-round space for the Farmers' Market. Following this amendment, the City contracted with consultant Project for Public Spaces (PPS) to facilitate community engagement on downtown's public space system. PPS provided recommendations that included reinvestment in the Park Blocks to support a vibrant public space that is active throughout the week and all year long. "In conjunction with the new City Hall, an expanded Farmers' Market and the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza, [the Park Blocks] will reemerge as the "Heart of Eugene."

Downtown Eugene has recently seen significant transformation as an energized regional center, drawing national recognition, local appreciation and new investment, and in 2021, Eugene will be the host city for the IAAF World Track and Field Championships, which will be the largest sporting event in the world that year. The decisions around the Town Square will shape the identity of downtown as a gathering place for the community and reflective of our shared values.

Site

The site is approximately 4 quarter blocks near the intersection of Oak Street and 8th Avenue (see attached map). The southwest and southeast corners of the intersection are typically called the Park Blocks (although properly speaking, the Park Blocks include all four corners of that intersection). The half block to the northwest, on the west side of Oak between 7th and 8th, is currently occupied by the Butterfly Lot, and will become the site for the City Hall (on the north) and Farmers' Market (on the south). Not included in this project is the County's Free Speech Plaza, which occupies the northeast corner of the intersection.

Solicitation Documents

Solicitation documents may be examined at the City of Eugene Purchasing Office, 100 West 10th Avenue, Suite 400, Eugene, Oregon 97401 or electronically by logging in to the Oregon Procurement Information Network (ORPIN) system at http://orpin.oregon.gov/open.dll/welcome

To view City of Eugene solicitations:

• Login to ORPIN
• Select Browse Opportunities
• Select By Organization
• Click Search
• Select City of Eugene (ORCPP)
• Select the solicitation and express interest
• Select the yellow folder next to Attachments Exist and Questions & Answers to view available files