<br />Final Order: The Harry and Etta Chase House | HDM 21-1/ HA 21-3/ ARB 21-2 <br /> <br />Some testimony was clearly intended to be considered under specific factors or approval criteria, while <br />other testimony was provided generally and the Board was left to decipher which, if any of the factors <br />or criteria it may fit under. The Board discussed the video under Factor 4: Historic Significance, which <br />demonstrates that the Board met its obligation to consider the evidence. Based on the Board’s <br />consideration of the video under another factor, it is unclear how the Board’s decision on this factor was <br />in error. <br /> <br />Factor 6: Economic consequences <br />Baker states that no mention of State property tax benefits is discussed and asserts that the Harry and <br />Etta Chase House is eligible for the Oregon special assessment program. Baker also asserts that the <br />Harlow Neighbors want to swap the vacant empty land north of the Q street slough for a future park <br />with the tax lots proposed by Cornerstone Community Housing for development. The point of this being <br />that if it were to occur, Cornerstone could have a vacant site and the Harlow Neighbors could have a <br />park with mature landscaping and existing houses. <br /> <br />Final Order Findings <br />The Final Order of the Historic Review Board provides findings which address testimony from interested <br />parties and discusses the applicant’s submittal. While the Board considered testimony from opponents, <br />the Board ultimately found that the arguments raised by the applicant were sufficient to allow <br />demolition when balancing this factor with others. Primary points from the argument were that it is not <br />financially feasible to preserve the house given the employment opportunities offered by the <br />construction, and the future benefits of an affordable housing development providing for about 379 <br />residents earning less than 60% of the Area Median Income. The full findings of the Board are included <br />in Attachment A. <br /> <br />Planning Commission’s Determination <br />The mention of a land swap and tax credits are not clearly relevant to the application at hand. While <br />both items could perhaps offer a scenario in which the buildings proposed for demolition could be <br />preserved, the Historic Review Board did not have the authority to require the applicant to apply for tax <br />credits or pursue a land swap. Additionally, this argument was not clearly articulated for the Historic <br />Review Board to consider. For these reasons, it is unclear how these items could have altered the Board’s <br />decision on this factor. <br /> <br />Factor 7: Design or construction rarity <br />Baker argues that the Board did not consider testimony and a map that was submitted which shows that <br />there are only three National Register properties north of the Willamette River in Eugene. Additionally, <br />the Chase Gardens Residential Grouping is one of only a few National Register properties associated with <br />the agricultural heritage of Eugene and the southern Willamette Valley. Finally, the statement that the <br />Chase Gardens Residential Grouping is truly unique and that there is not another similar property on the <br />National Register in all of Oregon and likely the Pacific Northwest is made again. <br /> <br />Final Order Findings <br />The Final Order of the Historic Review Board provides findings which address testimony from interested <br />parties and discusses the applicant’s submittal. While the Board considered testimony from opponents, <br />the Board ultimately found that the arguments raised by the applicant were sufficient to allow