UO E-clips, Aug. 14

UO gets city OK for sale of sites (Register-Guard): A divided Eugene City Council on Wednesday agreed to sell a pair of small but crucial properties to the University of Oregon, an important step in the university’s plan to build an indoor sports arena. Councilors voted 5-3 to “vacate” a public alley and a public strip of land that run smack through the middle of the site where the university proposes to build its $200 million arena at East 13th Avenue and Franklin Boulevard, on the north edge of the campus. The university still must secure approval from a city hearings officer on a conditional use permit before it can build the basketball and volleyball arena. The UO has not yet submitted a conditional use application.

UO gets green light on arena alley plans (The Oregonian): The Eugene City Council capped a sometimes-pointed one-hour meeting Wednesday by delivering the news University of Oregon officials wanted to hear: You can have the alley. Actually, with two 5-3 votes, the council approved vacating two strips of street for UO's basketball arena project: a two-block alley running parallel to Villard Street and a 13th Avenue right-of-way, both at the campus' northeast corner. UO had deposited $482,950 with the city, which will keep the money in exchange for turning over the street segments to the university. The alley has been out of use in recent years.

City council votes to approve alley vacation (KEZI 9 News): The city council voted 5-3 in favor of the university's request for the Villard alley and a portion of land on East 13th, allowing the university to take ownership of those properties for the basketball arena in 30-days. The discussion was heated on both sides. A Eugene City Planner says the next step is a hearing concerning the university's conditional use permit. University of Oregon President, Dave Frohnmayer says he's pleased with the council making a decision before their summer break. The president says the vacation request not only benefits the university, but the community in very big ways.

Hoops arena plan gets "vacation" approval (KVAL 13 News): A new $200 million basketball arena for the University of Oregon has gotten another green light. The Eugene City Council is giving the UO permission to take over a portion of Villard Alley and part of East 13th Avenue in the project area. Officials voted 5-3 for the motion, with Councilors Bonnie Bettman, Betty Taylor and Alan Zelenka casting the "no" votes. They argued it was not in the public interest to rush into a decision on the street vacation request. But Councilor Jennifer Solomon said that would amount to a stalling tactic and urged officials to pass the request. University officials say they need the streets to get the property along Franklin ready for building. U-of-O President Dave Frohnmayer says they still hope to break ground on the arena this fall. It would be open for UO basketball games in late 2010.

UO begins first phase of history museum improvements (Daily Journal of Commerce): The University of Oregon last week broke ground on a new wing for its Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Designed by Robertson Sherwood Architects of Eugene and architect Otto Poticha, the new wing is the first of three stages planned for a $9.55 million expansion that will double the museum’s space for collections, research laboratories and public programs. The new $2.8 million collections wing will house 500,000 artifacts uncovered during road and public works projects. New storage vaults will preserve the artifacts and make the collections more accessible to researchers.