It took a little longer than anticipated, but much of the Market Expansion project is now complete and open for business. Three years ago, I predicted the ambitious development by the Obie Companies would bolster downtown Eugene’s ongoing revitalization. I stand by that prediction, even as the adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to play out. The public debut of the Market Expansion mirrors a growing optimism that better days are well on their way.
I took advantage of an agreeably sunny and mild Saturday afternoon to visit the project. Many others obviously shared the same idea, as Market Alley—the 200-foot-long covered promenade that forms the heart of the Market Expansion—was bustling with activity. Though privately controlled, the open-air setting provides a curated simulacrum of the public realm, an accessible space activated by the everyday use of residents and visitors. It reminds me of Milan’s famous Galleria, albeit suitably lacking its pretension and at a much humbler scale. It’s ideal for people-watching, a safe and comfortable place people want to stay in for a while once they’ve arrived. The space feels more genuine to me than the Heritage Courtyard at Oakway Center, perhaps because as part of the Market Expansion it directly ties to its urban setting rather than being divorced from it.
The Market Expansion; view from Pearl Street
Market Alley; view looking west toward the Gordon Hotel
In addition to the Market Alley, the mixed-use development comprises the seven-story, 82-room Gordon Hotel, the apartments at the Gordon Lofts (with rents starting at $1,230/month for a studio unit), maker spaces for local crafters, and offices located above the retail spaces. The Nike By Eugene store anchors the intersection at 6th and Pearl. It opened for business in January, followed soon after by Café Yumm and Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream (which seemed especially popular during my visit to Market Alley). Additional tenants include Karin Clarke at the Gordon, Beaudet Jewelry, and Bug’s Baby Boutique. The Gordon Hotel opened Valentine’s Day weekend; the hotel first lit its signature rooftop sign the previous week. A fourth of the upscale Gordon Lofts are already leased.
Andersen Construction served as the Construction Manager/General Contractor, and Ankrom Moisan led the design team.
The Obie Companies’ website describes the three-story retail and office building as “reminiscent of an early 20th-century warehouse building and harkens back to when the 5th Street Public Market area was Eugene’s industrial center, home to manufacturers and similar businesses.” It additionally characterizes the boutique Gordon Hotel as having an “urban . . . grittier feel.” Notwithstanding the project’s allusions to an erstwhile, imagined history, I believe the design of the buildings by Ankrom Moisan strike an appropriate balance of scale, detail, and economy. The initial renderings of the Gordon Hotel alluded to Art Deco architecture, whereas the finished product is lamentably plainer in execution. The form of the “tower” portion of the hotel seems particularly ungainly when compared to the vertical expression of the early design.
The Gordon Hotel
Rendering of initial design by Ankrom Moisan
Despite its generous street-level glazing, the 6th Avenue side of the commercial building effectively and necessarily turns its back to the busy, noisy, and polluting thoroughfare. If 6th ever becomes more pedestrian-friendly, I suspect the frontage will one day feature multiple, varied, and welcoming storefronts.
6th Avenue view
Time will tell, but I do think the Market Expansion will add substantial vibrancy to the Market District. It is a welcome addition, one that may prove to have been a vital shot in the arm for downtown Eugene (pardon the coronavirus pun) as life returns to the local commercial, retail, and hospitality markets. Kudos to the Obie Companies, Ankrom Moisan, Andersen Construction, and the entire Market Expansion team!
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