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BUILDING Current Happenings 12/7/11 We are working with 4J superintendent Dr. Sheldon Berman to determine to what extent we can partner to develop facilities and programs that serve our entire community, including the kids and families of 4J. Our hope is that, together, we can creatively develop the Civic property to bring a state-of-the-art community recreation and academic achievement center that will replace our current Patterson facilities and offer so much more in terms of access, services and programs for all ages and abilities. In West Eugene, we continue to partner to with the City of Eugene to determine how to best develop the Bethel Park site in accordance with the City’s Master Plan. Two of the four required public meetings and surveys are complete, the third and final of which will be complete by the end of January 2012. We will continue to work with the City through the land use process in 2012—a tedious, but thorough process that will help us to identify development and access issues and address them proactively. We are grateful to the City’s team that has been assigned to the Y project in Bethel—we trust this partnership will result in a great recreational resource for the Bethel community.
8/3/11 4J has issued another call for proposals—this time in the form of requesting to hear from those interested in entering into a short term lease agreement. We continue to work with Rick Wright (Market of Choice) to coordinate our efforts here; are awaiting to hear some more details about the lease agreement. All systems are a go for our work out in Bethel. We’re working with the City of Eugene and Bethel School District to make develop that site… and we’re on schedule and moving ahead towards a new Y in 2013.
5/23/11 NEW Bottom of the ninth. Bases are loaded. The crowd’s going wild. When Superintendent George Russell recommended that the 4J Board choose the Fred Meyer proposal for the future of Civic Stadium, the community responded with a rallying cry that someone figure out a way for the Y and Save Civic Stadium to work together to develop that site. The problem was, we’d tried; and kept coming up against the same two obstacles: money and time. Now, community business leader Rick Wright (Market of Choice) is offering to buy us all some time. He announced at Monday’s 4J Budget Committee meeting that he and other donors are willing to provide 4J with a multi-year, guaranteed, no-risk lease payment that is greater than that of Fred Meyer’s—to give us time to raise the money we need to build a new Y and for Save Civic to secure the funding and operations plan they need to succeed. It gives us both time to negotiate the parking limitations of the site with the district and the city. It’s a hopeful solution to what a week ago seemed impossible. We understand that Market of Choice has an economic interest in encouraging the Board to reconsider the Superintendent’s recommendation, but also recognize that Market of Choice would continue to thrive with the competition coming to the neighborhood. We believe Mr. Wright, his partners and fellow business leaders who are willing to support this cause have the goodwill of our community at heart. Market of Choice checkers have been taking informal polling of our neighbors for weeks and the majority sentiment is clear: people want the integrity of a recreational community gathering spot maintained for generations to come. What do you think? Let the school board know at board@4j.lane.edu 4/28/11 Lawn signs are sprouting up all over town, editorials continue to debate the matter and a final decision on the fate of the Civic Stadium site is still many weeks, meetings and public hearings away. So, we ask that you keep the buzz going in favor of the Y’s plans for redeveloping the Civic Stadium site for the benefit of our community. Schools and Ys make great neighbors!
The school district will reap ongoing benefits from having the Y as a neighbor. The Y has been here for 124 years for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility and we will deliver services and programs in line with these focus areas for another 124 years to come…and beyond. This puts the Y in direct alignment with the school district’s mission. We have been providing out of school opportunities for 4J’s kids for decades—the potential for strengthening this partnership is greatly increased—for in school and out of school programming-- if we move forward with a renewed sense of collaboration as intentional neighbors dedicated to improving the lives of kids, families, adults and seniors. Not IF we build, but WHERE we build…
If you are hearing other specific concerns that need to be addressed, please let us know so we can continue to educate and inform our neighbors about the Y’s plans! Thank you all so much for voicing your support.
4/5/10: South Eugene: Thank you to everyone who participated in the 4J School Board online survey to determine public opinion around the future use of Civic Stadium and its land. We saw the results and there was a tremendous amount of support for community recreational services, development that will increase the liveability of the neighborhood and the Y. We eagerly anticipate the release of an RFP so we can have the opportunity to put our vision for a new YMCA community center into official proposal form. We remain neutral about the stadium structure itself--confident that should community will and resources allow it to be renovated and inhabited, we would make very compatible neighbors with its new tenants. We remain committed to partnering with 4J and other agencies to develop this site for the greatest and best use for all in our community. Thank you for letting the School Board hear your thoughts on the matter! Check back soon... 2/26/2010 (March 5th deadline for 4J survey below) Please go to: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2RC9M3K by March 5th to let the School Board hear your opinion on what you’d like to see happen on that property. Please urge the Board to seek the highest and greatest community benefit for that site, maintaining the environment of community recreation.
Bethel: Currently, we are partnering with the City to conduct a Land Feasibility study, making sure that the land and infrastructure is compatible with the type of facility development we envision. Good to know:
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EUGENE FAMILY YMCA 2055 Patterson Street / Eugene, Oregon 97405 / 541-686-9622 |
