St. Vincent DePaul has secured plans to build a five-story, low-income housing building at 110 E. 11th Ave., the location of its downtown Eugene retail store. But the new homes created in this $7 million project will oust current businesses — John Henry’s, Wild Thyme Cafe and Catering and Northwest Rental Services — from their homes.
St. Vincent’s plans to renovate the building were no secret. The organization’s development director, Amanda Saul, said tenants knew renovation was a possibility since St. Vincent applied for $665,000 in city home funds in 1997. Saul said the St. Vincent store has been in that location since the 1970s, and the organization bought the remaining parts of the building in 1999 specifically for the housing project.
Tom Tracey, co-owner of John Henry’s, said he received a letter in 1999 alerting him to the possible renovation. About a month ago, he received another letter saying the development was approved. Since then, Tracey has been keeping an eye out for suitable places to relocate.
“We need places where we can make noise (and) park,” he said.
John Henry’s has been at its current location since 1992. Tracey said the “funky” building has provided more than enough space in an appropriate location while remaining “pretty cheap.” He said it is doubtful that he can find another location so fitting for John Henry’s and said the new space will likely be smaller.
“I’d like to be in Springfield so we can smoke cigarettes,” he said jokingly.
Tracey is responsible for finding John Henry’s a new home, as are the owners of the other businesses in the building. But once locations are chosen, part of the city funds St. Vincent received are available to help the businesses resettle. Eugene development analyst Sunna Murray said the city home funds are allocated to the city from the federal government, and the money comes with “a few strings.”
Murray said because the housing project will displace tenants, a certain amount of the money must be provided to relocate the businesses. The business owners will submit proposals for how much money they need for relocation, which can include costs such as physical moving and site alteration, Murray said. However, that process hasn’t begun yet because the groundbreaking isn’t until June 2002, Saul said.
Tracey was skeptical about how much these funds would help, but he said he is staying relaxed during the process.
“Most of the old beasts like this one have been torn down already,” he said. “It seems to be the natural order of things.”
Donald Burdette, co-owner of Wild Thyme, is not so accepting. He said he was unaware of the possibility that the building would be demolished when his wife chose the space for the business last January.
“I don’t think there is a need in the community for low-income housing downtown,” he said. “This is a business area and should remain so.”
Burdette said he and his wife were invited to a party held to celebrate the renovation but decided not to attend.
“It’s like attending your own funeral,” he said.
Saul said St. Vincent thinks there should be low-income housing downtown. Since the project’s proposal, two new housing developments have been built downtown that cater to wealthier tenants.
For Tracey, “part of life is moving on.” But he’s trying to make the most of a bad situation; students should be on the lookout for the John Henry’s farewell bash.
“I’m sure once we get everything nailed down, we’ll let ‘er rip,” he said.