Eugene moves forward with 133 new downtown apartments at 1059 Willamette, including 68 affordable units and 10 reserved for domestic violence survivors

Eugene, OR – The City of Eugene and a development team led by deChase Miksis and Edlen & Company have finalized the property transfer for 1059 Willamette Street, clearing the way for demolition and construction of a new six-story housing project in downtown Eugene.

The $38.3 million mixed-income, mixed-use development will include 133 apartments, with 68 units designated as income-qualified for households earning up to 80% of the area median income and 65 units offered at market rates.

The affordable units will remain income-restricted for 35 years. Ten of the apartments will also be reserved for survivors of domestic violence through a partnership with Hope and Safety Alliance, a local nonprofit that provides services and financial assistance.

The project will transform the long-empty former Lane Community College building into a development that also includes ground-floor commercial space, a public art gallery and an all-electric design.

The property is located in downtown Eugene about one mile from the University of Oregon’s main campus and across the street from the Lane Transit District bus depot. City officials said the location will provide residents with access to public transportation, downtown businesses, employers and cultural destinations.

Demolition of the existing building is expected to begin soon, with construction scheduled to start this winter. Construction is expected to take approximately 19 months.

The City of Eugene and its Urban Renewal Agency will invest $10.5 million in the project. Of that amount, $10.1 million will come from urban renewal tax increment funds, while another $400,000 will come from the moderate-income housing fee collected through the city’s Multi-Unit Property Tax Exemption program.

The city also provided the land to the development team at no cost, and the Eugene City Council approved a MUPTE for the project in 2024.

Equity financing was provided by MSquared, a New York-based, women-led equity firm focused on mixed-use and mixed-income developments and public-private partnerships.

City officials said increasing housing in downtown Eugene is a major priority as the city works to address housing costs, encourage more activity downtown and reduce per-capita greenhouse gas emissions.

Eugene City Manager Jenny Haruyama said the redevelopment will bring new homes and activity to a prominent downtown block while supporting local businesses and creating a more walkable city center.

The project follows five years of collaboration between the city and the development team.

The city purchased the former Lane Community College building in 2020 using federal Community Development Block Grant funds. Those funds require the property to be used for housing, with at least 51% of the units affordable to households earning at or below 80% of the area median income.

Mark Miksis, principal at deChase Miksis, said the project reflects years of collaboration between the public and private sectors and expressed excitement about moving into construction.

The development will also bring some temporary impacts to the surrounding area during construction, including minimal traffic and on-street parking impacts along 11th Avenue and Willamette Street.

A formal groundbreaking event is expected to be held later this winter.