Eugene Weekly

City Club of Eugene is getting a new venue starting with its Jan. 10 meeting. We wrote about a City Club survey of its members in this column back on Sept. 19, and one of the preliminary top three favorites for a meeting place was the Downtown Athletic Club. Looks like the DAC beat out the Hilton and LCC Downtown Campus in the final selection, offering a “wider set of food options and price points, as well as a lower guarantee for the club,” according to the club’s website. Continue reading →

This long Thanksgiving weekend, those of us who are capable of leaving the house (or actually have a house) might look at alternatives to the retail mania that grips our nation. If you feel compelled to shop, Holiday Market with all its delights will be open at the Fairgrounds and it’s a marvelous place to hang out even if you’re broke. Fifth Street Public Market is hosting “Small Business Saturday” for the third year in a row Nov. 30. All the shops there are locally owned and operated, as are hundreds of small businesses around town. Continue reading →

For-profit banks are losing billions as more and more people discover not-for-profit credit unions which often offer better savings and loan rates, and fewer of those fees that irritate bank customers. Bankers, naturally, have big clout in Congress and regulations are being proposed that would require credit unions to pay the same taxes as for-profit banks. Several of our local credit unions are joining to educate their members and the public about the issues. Continue reading →

 It’s too late to register for the Regional Prosperity Summit that began Thursday morning, Nov. 14, at the Ford Alumni Center, but the event carries over at 8:30 am Friday at Hilton Garden Inn, 3528 Gateway St. in Springfield. Contact Beth Forrest at 682-5882 or email beth.l.forrest@ci.eugene.or.us. Continue reading →

 Eugeneans are still pondering the boom in student housing and wondering when it will end. In light of the overbuilding (see our cover story Oct. 10) we predict several big projects on the drawing board will be shelved before groundbreaking. College enrollment has peaked, so the big out-of-state investors have been counting on drawing tenants from existing apartments and houses all over town. That’s happening to a degree, but Eugene is not a typical college town. Continue reading →

Residential property sales are up significantly in Lane County, comparing last September with this September, according to a Regional Multiple Listing Service report passed along to us by Prudential broker Sally Nunn. The median residential sales price is up 15 percent, the number of new listings is up 15 percent and the number of closed sales is up 16.8 percent. Neighborhoods leading in average price change are Mohawk Valley, Springfield, McKenzie Valley, River Road, Coburg/I-5 and southwest Eugene. Continue reading →

Abstract Bodyworks has opened at 2840 Crescent Ave., Suite 100, near Crescent Village in north Eugene. Owner Ed Collins says the Abstract program is designed for those over 50 “who want to live 15 years younger in as little as 15 minutes a week.” The program focuses on slow-motion strength training to “reverse the aging process and regain muscle strength and overall health.” Collins previously managed the rehab and exercise division of Back2Strength. Katie Collins, a graduate in exercise science at NCU, will manage the business. Call 844-1608. Continue reading →

We hear Level Up Arcade is expanding into the back of its building at 13th and Oak, space previously occupied by the old Maize Lounge, and this back part will be open in about two weeks with pool tables, more games and a stage for performance. Yep, Eugene is getting a new live music venue. See www.leveluparcade.com. Continue reading →

Capstone has finished its first phase of construction and now has 380 residents, mostly students, but Capstone leases individual rooms and does not require that residents be students. Residents can request who will be their roommates. Phase II will take another year and when completed, the Capstone project, named 13th & Olive, will house about 1,300 people and sport another big parking garage. We wrote in our Aug. 29 issue about complaints we’ve heard about that big ugly concrete wall at Capstone. Continue reading →

The 41st annual Corvallis Fall Festival is this weekend, Sept. 28-29, at Central Park featuring free live music, arts, food, a street dance and a 5/10K run. Many local nonprofits will have booths. Among them, the Corvallis Community Children’s Centers will be holding a silent auction in support of Little Free Libraries, a community movement that offers free books housed in colorful small containers. See corvallischildcare.org and corvallisfallfestival.org. Continue reading →