Downtown Eugene is the social, economic and cultural heart of our community. It’s where we come to take in a show, engage with local government, or meet up with friends for a coffee or a night on the town. And increasingly, it’s a place where many of us live. Downtown Eugene also produces more tax revenue than any other part of our city (on a per acre basis), which pays for services (like libraries, parks, roads and police) across our community. That said, some of our community’s most vexing challenges are evident in the social and physical environment downtown and it takes innovative partnerships and solutions to tackle them. Together with the private and non-profit sectors, the City of Eugene is addressing these issues and taking action on opportunities in five main areas of focus:
•Public Safety and Social Services
•Physical Improvements
•Cultural Programming and Events
•Economic Development; and
•Communications
Do you want to learn more about what we are doing in downtown Eugene? Contact Eric Brown, the City’s Downtown Manager, or check out some of the information on this site, including links to our social feeds.
The World Athletics Championships are fast approaching, and for 10 days in July, Eugene will be the epicenter of the track and field universe. Read on...
Hearing loops in Downtown Eugene enable users to enjoy the arts and experiences through wearable assistive technology. Read more about the new mural . . .
Eugene’s downtown tech scene is stronger than ever, thanks to a variety of spaces that offer coworking, collaboration, innovation and the ability to leverage the lightning speed fiber internet. Read More About Innovation Spaces Downtown . . .
Large sporting events such as the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials and Oregon football games help boost recovery efforts in Downtown Eugene by drawing more visitors to local establishments such as Run Hub and the Graduate Hotel. Read more about events helping recovery . . .
SparkLab is the newest — and largest to date — initiative by Connected Lane County, a local nonprofit focused on improving student success for historically underserved populations around Lane County. Read more about SparkLab . . .
Temporary windowfront installations were created during the pandemic to support local artists and businesses while bringing vibrancy downtown. Read more about window exhibits downtown . . .
The pandemic has been tough on small businesses, but two couples have brought a pair of formerly popular gathering places in the heart of downtown Eugene back to life. Read more about reopenings downtown . . .
During the pandemic, many local theaters, concert halls and performance spaces have invested in the future of performance and arts education in our community. Read about ongoing venue upgrades . . .
Eugene has three coworking spaces: Code Chops, Eugene Mindworks, and The District Coworking and Flex Office, which opens this April in the expanded Fifth Street Public Market. Read more about coworking spaces in Eugene . . .
Eugene’s Downtown Ambassadors perform different duties, but all of them are meant to achieve the same outcome -- making people feel welcome and safe in downtown. Read more about downtown ambassadors . . .
A welcome trend is underway in downtown Eugene. More residents are moving into new housing in the City center -- adding vitality to the area and helping the community make progress on key goals. Read more about new downtown housing . . .
The City of Eugene Cultural Services Downtown Program Fund offers artists and organizations an opportunity to transform downtown outdoor spaces into arts and culture destinations. Read more about the downtown program fund . . .
The City of Eugene is extending an outdoor café seating program for another six months to help restaurants stay in business during the pandemic while complying with physical distancing requirements. Read more about the streatery program . . .
Michael Phinney wanted to find the right person to take over Full City Coffee in downtown Eugene. After all, he had spent 30 years making the Pearl Street business an institution in the city’s highly competitive coffee shop scene. Read more about Palace Bakery . . .
Two stores and a restaurant have opened recently in downtown Eugene, proving that while COVID-19 has disrupted daily life and the economy, entrepreneurs remain confident in the commercial and cultural center of the city as a place to start a business. Read more about entrepreneurship in Eugene . . .
Downtown merchants hope to get a boost from holiday shoppers in the weeks ahead. For some merchants, seasonal sales could make the difference between staying open or closing permanently. Learn how to support businesses downtown . . .
A vibrant arts scene is a vital piece of any city's downtown. Artists define the character of communities. In Eugene, we have a wealth of places downtown where we can see art, find supplies to make art, and buy pieces from the local artists we love. Ways to support Eugene arts . . .
Entrepreneurial dreams from a half century ago led to The Kiva, one of Eugene’s cherished food institutions. The Kiva is a downtown grocery store long popular with people who prefer locally grown organic produce and food. Read more about the Kiva's 50th anniversary . .
