1 <br />JANISCH Amy C <br />From:Leah Middlebrook <lwmiddlebrook@gmail.com> <br />Sent:Friday, June 05, 2015 10:44 AM <br />To:KNAPP Jennifer L <br />Subject:Serious concerns re Cascade manor tower in South Eugene <br />Dear Jennifer Knapp, <br /> <br />I'm sorry to be chiming in on this issue late; I only just heard that the planning commission was taking comments. As a <br />longtime homeowner, tax payer, community member in South Eugene (2998 Washington St., just over the hill from the <br />proposed tower), I cannot emphasize enough how problematic I find the proposal to build a 7-story tower in my <br />neighborhood. Our area was not zoned for this type of construction, and Eugene has *plenty* of available spots where <br />a tower would not disrupt the neighborhood. In addition, the property values of many of our neighbors --not me <br />personally, but people in my community I know and care about-- will suffer a major loss in their property values, just <br />as the economic crisis is beginning to finally, finally recede. These are people who make excellent neighbors and are <br />slowly, house by house, beautifying the blocks of Portland St., Olive St., etc. and beginning to raise families there, etc. <br />--all that goes into a strong neighborhood and community. It's really awful to imagine that these types of folks will <br />again be pushed underwater with mortgages that now exceed the value of their properties. Changing the zoning laws <br />will result in precisely that...Respectfully, and with deference to all the work you put into thinking through how Eugene <br />communities can grow responsibly (seriously: my sister's a planner. I get it...) --with respect, I do hope that the <br />planning commission takes that impact into consideration. <br /> <br />Finally, it would take a lot of work to accommodate that tower: sidewalks, work on the road to make it suitable for the <br />vastly increased traffic... <br /> <br />This is just not a good idea. <br /> <br />Thank you for taking my concerns into account. <br /> <br />Best wishes, <br /> <br />Leah Middlebrook <br />Homeowner: 2998 Washington St., Eugene 97405 <br />541-345-9098 <br /> <br />