What good are the “pillars” of Envision Eugene, if pave-and-run, out-of-state for-maximum-profit developers can get away with most everything short of battery and assault on our community.
Proposed developments abutting our sacred Willamette River Greenway need to be compatible with existing neighborhood values and context sensitive design.
We don’t need another out-of-state cookie-cutter design foisted on our cherished greenway, like the pave-and-run strategy foisted upon our neighbors at the ECCO development. Recently, HACSA (Housing Authority & Community Services Agency of Lane County) morphed into Homes for Good.
Does the makeover give cover for them in ditching their long-time mission to create affordable housing? Instead, selling a public asset for chump change to the developer to reap market-rate rents to be sold off after the pave-and-run strategy has been implemented.
HACSA/Homes for Good looks to build their own palatial palace for the administrators from proceeds from this potential sale. The strategy that HACSA/HFG has embedded itself with includes ignoring the obvious concerns.
Of course, HACSA/HFG is at the mercy of the Lane County commissioners, think organizational chart. When I was serving as a county commissioner, some of our discussions centered on how to put the
“community services” back into HACSA. How silly of me. They not only ditched the CS in HACSA; they also carved the heart out of affordable housing.
Any chance, Mr. Fox can yet salvage his own career legacy, or that of HACSA/HFG? Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, move along, folks — nothing to see here.
Rob Handy
Eugene
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
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None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519