EWEB Unveils Final Draft of Riverfront Master Plan

The Eugene Water & Electric Board and Rowell Brokaw Architects hosted a Riverfront Open House at the utility’s headquarters to celebrate the completion of the EWEB Riverfront Master Plan.

The open house covered refinements made to the master plan since the March public meeting in which approximately 300 community members offered their thoughts and suggestions on how EWEB’s riverfront property should be redeveloped in the future.

The completed master plan, which will guide future redevelopment of the 27-acre riverfront property on the eastern edge of downtown, follows more than 20 months of work by the nine-member Community Advisory Team, architects and interested community members.

EWEB will move its operations and maintenance functions – about 250 workers – to a new facility off Roosevelt Boulevard in west Eugene in November. In anticipation of eventually selling the vacated riverfront property, the utility has sought and received community input on redevelopment options. EWEB customer service and administrative staff will remain in the Fourth Avenue headquarters building after operations personnel move to Roosevelt.

Those attending the event had the opportunity to meet the Community Advisory Team, a diverse volunteer group appointed by EWEB commissioners and the Eugene City Council to help guide the creation of the master plan.

Representatives from Rowell Brokaw Architects, hired by EWEB as the project consultant, were also on hand to answer questions and discuss the design.

The event included tours of the property, including inside the historic steam plant, as well as refreshments and marimba music by Zambuko.

The goal of the master planning process is to create a vibrant, active, multi-use “people place” along Eugene’s downtown riverfront, and also connect downtown with the Willamette River.

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