A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE RIVERFRONT RESEARCH PARK AS IT RELATES TO
THIS RESOLUTION
The areas under discussion are two adjacent parcels on the south
side of the Willamette River. One is called the River View Sector, a 10+ acre
grassy parcel by Autzen Bridge with the well-used soccer and frisbee fields.
The second parcel, called the Gateway Sector, is a 5+ acre parcel immediately
to the west of the Riverview Sector and east of the EWEB building. Both
parcels fall entirely within the federally-mandated Willamette River Scenic
Corridor (Willamette Greenway).
The original RRP Master Plan proposed to develop these two sectors with
a total of 5-10 buildings, roads, up to 4 parking structures, bark-o-mulch
landscaping, paths, and several surface parking lots. Last spring the University
administration, which supports the Master Plan, created a RRP Review Committee
to evaluate the RRP. The University RRP Review Committee issued a report
in October 1998 supporting RRP expansion north of the tracks. They suggested
several changes to the original Master Plan, the most significant of which
were to begin development of and increase density in the Gateway Sector,
to delay development of the River View Sector for 5 years, and to set back
the buildings along the river by 100 ft instead of the original 35 ft.
On December 2nd the University Senate passed a resolution affirming
all 3 of the RRP Review Committee's major conclusions above, thus giving
the green light for expansion of the Research Park into the Willamette
Greenway.
RRP Expansion into either of the two sectors along the Willamette River
will irreversibly ruin the scenic beauty and natural vista of this river
front area appreciated by thousands of people every day. The University
cannot be committed to environmental consciousness on this side of Franklin
Boulevard and at the same time destroy a large and beautiful riparian zone
across the road. Moreover, to develop either sector would go against the
mandate of our citizens and neighbors who overwhelmingly voted in favor
of increasing urban green spaces at the last election. It is important
to realize that preservation of the Gateway and River View Sectors does
not necessarily mean that the RRP park cannot be expanded further; RRP
expansion can still be accomplished using existing vacant or underdeveloped
parcels south of the railroad tracks.
Bottom lines:
1) The University can realize the long-term objectives of the RRP without compromising the natural beauty of the lands alongside the river.
2) A research park can be built anywhere; a river front, once destroyed, is gone forever.