4/29/2019 Downtown riverfront property comes alive with demolition - News -The Reg ister-Guard - Eugene, OR <br />the ~6tegister-G~iu~rd <br />Downtown riverfront property comes alive with <br />demolition <br />By Christian Hill <br /> <br />Posted Apr 28, 2019 at 5:00 AM <br />The long-idle downtown riverfront property has begun turning into a <br />construction zone as the city of Eugene is laying the groundwork this summer for <br />two major public construction projects. <br />The work will prep the Eugene Water & Electric Board's former operations yard, <br />now owned by the city, for construction next summer of the streets and utilities to <br />serve a new neighborhood as well as the new riverfront community park. <br />On Thursday, workers with Staton Cos, began tearing down the Midgley's <br />Building at the corner of East Fourth Avenue and High Street. The building is the <br />first of three Staton will tear down on the property before grading the area in <br />anticipation of next year's construction. The city issued a demolition permit <br />earlier this month. <br />The Midgley's Building was the longtime home of the EWEB Child Development <br />Center, soon to be Eugene Child Development Center, which operates a preschool <br />and offers after-school and summer programs. <br />The center moved to its new home on Goodpasture Island Road last June in <br />anticipation of the building's demolition. <br />"It was bittersweet," said Kerry Vill, the center's assistant director, who drove by <br />the building as its demolition started. "We're glad to be in our new place, but it's <br />sad to be out of that building." <br />https:/Awwv.reg isterg uard.com/nem/20190428/downtown-riwrfront-property-comes-alive-with-demolition 1 /4 <br />