Letter To the Eugene Weekly

Ok. I am in a better mood now. Here's my letter:

CHOPPED-UP EUGENE

Regarding your cover story about City Hall, "Doomed To Demo" (8/17), I'd like to add my two cents as someone who works in Eugene and Corvallis.

On one hand you have the city of Corvallis, with a vibrant artistic downtown filled with small businesses and buildings that convey the homey sense of a small town community. Then there's Eugene, filled with concrete structures that bisect the downtown area and loom over empty storefronts. If you don't believe me, go to both towns at Christmas and observe the amount of downtown shoppers.

The writer of the article obviously favors rebuilding these concrete monoliths that are almost 50 years old. Where is the Eugene that once had its main street (Willamette) running from the butte and train station through downtown? Willamette is chopped up by the ugly 1950s-designed Hilton and part of the Hult Center and shaded by concrete parking garages. Surrounding streets are metered for little or no parking, designed to speed any visitor through downtown as fast as possible.

Yes, rebuilding Eugene's currently earthquake-unsafe city center will cost money — but the result can and should be a kinder, gentler, friendlier downtown that serves the people. Other city and county agencies can be incorporated into a new downtown plan — an example is LCARA, which would benefit by having homeless animals available within walking distance to anyone interested in a new friend. Currently one has to drive miles to get to LCARA or Greenhill.

Maybe a police station that doesn't resemble the set of "Dragnet" would help the citizens warm up to those that protect and serve. Perhaps many local businesses could benefit from a new look downtown. Hello? Eugene CAN do it — contrary to the naysayer writer of your cover story.

Marc Time, Junction City