The Willamette Science and Technology Center might not close after all.
The WISTEC board of directors had previously announced plans to shut its doors after the Eugene City Council decided Jan. 22 to allow the University to build a bus transit station on a nearby city-owned parking lot adjacent to Autzen Stadium, which is being renovated to increase its seating capacity. WISTEC had sold parking passes to football fans on that lot, and museum officials said WISTEC was dependent on that revenue.
The WISTEC board of directors decided in a closed meeting Monday to explore other options to keep the children’s museum open.
WISTEC Executive Director Meg Trendler said the museum’s decision to close was not a final decision and that the board will take the time to pursue other options to avoid closing.
Trendler said that the board’s wording about closing was misconstrued by the media and the public. What the board meant when they said they were closing WISTEC was that when the council voted for “option one,” which allows the University to expand Autzen’s seating and build the bus station instead of increasing parking to accommodate the influx of patrons, it effectively forced the museum to close.
An outpouring of public concern has led WISTEC to some options that might be able to keep the museum open. One particular offer is being seriously considered by the board and will be discussed over the next couple of weeks.
Trendler said she would not discuss the details of those options.
University officials, who previously offered $201,000 in compensation for WISTEC’s lost revenues over the next seven years, said the offer has not been retracted.
Jan Oliver, the associated vice president of institutional affairs for the University, said the University is confused by WISTEC’s refusal to accept the compensation.
“We’re a little mystified by WISTEC’s position and statements, but we’re willing to wait and see what happens as to if they are going to accept our offer or not,” Oliver said.
But WISTEC Board Chairman Charles Christensen said the compensation offered by the University is still not enough to cover the loss of revenue.
“What people don’t understand is, with the building of the new bus station, we’re also losing our own parking lot which also generates revenue for Autzen Stadium events,” Christensen said. “Once the station is put into place, cars cannot cross over pedestrian walkways until an hour after the games. Nobody wants to wait an hour to leave a parking lot.”