Empty storefronts, graffiti-covered walls, and the occasional closed sign might be what some University of Oregon students think of when they hear “downtown Eugene.” But behind the scenes, city leaders and business advocates say there’s a major push underway to turn that image around — and they want students to be part of the change.
“Our biggest challenge in downtown Eugene is perceptions of safety and cleanliness,” Eric Brown, downtown manager for the City of Eugene, said. “That’s what makes people hesitate to invest — especially in ground floor businesses.”
It’s a familiar issue for some of those who have walked down Broadway or Willamette streets in recent years. But city and business leaders are trying to shift that experience by cleaning up the streets, recruiting more businesses, and investing in housing to bring more people downtown — not just to shop or eat, but to live.
Rapid Response and Red Hats
One of the city’s recent tools is a rapid-response cleaning team that responds to reported messes — fast. “If someone sees graffiti or a mess, they can snap a photo, upload it, and often within 10 to 15 minutes, city staff show up to clean it up,” Brown explained…