Press Room

Jun 20, 2002

ED RUSSO for the Eugene Register-Guard

Arlie to pursue Crescent complex

Arlie & Co. is expected to file tentative plans today for a big complex of offices, stores and housing off Crescent Avenue in north Eugene, a step that could lead to the start of some construction next year.

The master plan for the 38 acres, once considered the site for PeaceHealth’s next hospital, shows a mix of offices and shops, plus condominiums, apartments, a possible assisted living center, a day care center and a grocery store. The entire development would be named Crescent Village. The land is east of Coburg Road and north of Crescent.

Area residents, many of whom had objected to PeaceHealth’s plans for a huge hospital, got a look at Arlie’s ideas at a meeting early this week with representatives from the Eugene-based real estate and development company.

"It looks gorgeous," one resident commented at Monday night’s meeting. “Residents will have a chance to tell the hearings official what they think about the plan, Jacobson said, probably later this summer or in the fall.

Reed told residents that Arlie is getting interest in the site from grocery stores and "we’re talking with a couple of prominent day care providers."

One developer is interested in building an assisted living center, he said.

It could take seven to 10 years to develop the entire 38 acres, Reed said. In courting tenants or buyers for office or retail space, Arlie will be competing with a development group on the south side of Crescent, immediately across from the Arlie property.

That group, headed by Charles McGlade, a Eugene medical doctor, has plans to develop its 10-acre site with office buildings surrounded by stores and restaurants. McGlade already has one occupant in place: a U.S. Bank branch. The site’s centerpiece is to be two four-story office buildings totaling 159,000 square feet. No tenants or construction dates have been announced yet. McGlade’s development concept - a planned unit development called Summer Oaks/ Crescent Center - was actually crafted by Arlie in 2000 and approved by the city. Arlie then sold the land last year to McGlade and his partners.

Arlie representatives first presented their plan for Crescent Village to residents in March, received feedback and made adjustments based on what they heard, Reed said.

For example, under the latest plan, the condos and apartments would be built so they would not overlook neighboring single-family homes, Reed said.

Residents on Monday continued to let their wishes be known. The company said it planned to have two- or three-story-tall apartment buildings. To that, a woman asked Reed: "What are the chances the apartments next to homes could be two story?"

"I think we can do that," Reed replied.