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For more than a year, a neighborhood
group has fought to save a 40-acre plot of forested land between
Dillard Road and Nectar Way from development. Now, the city wants
re-negotiate a deal to buy the plot, but it may be too late.
Local activists are working to save the Nectar Way forest from
development.
The land in question is one of the biggest unprotected parcels
of high-quality habitat in Eugene, containing Amazon Creek headwaters,
seasonal wetlands, upland wildlife habitat and several endangered
plants. City of Eugene Parks Director Johnny Medlin calls the
plot "the most pristine piece of land outside of public ownership
in Eugene." The Parks Department is interested in incorporating
the land into the Ridgeline Trail network.
The city has tried, and failed, to buy the plot before. Just
as the city was poised to purchase the property in the spring
of 2004, DDA Oregonia sold it to developer Joe Green. City officials
maintain that they made a good-faith effort to obtain the plot,
but DDA Oregonia local manager Munir Katul told neighborhood activists
that the city never expressed an earnest interest in buying it.
Regardless, Green won the bid and now owns the property. He later
refused the city's offer to buy the plot at the appraised price
of $430,000.
On July 18, the Eugene City Council passed a motion to direct
the city manager to re-negotiate with Green about purchasing the
property. Funds could come from city coffers as well as the neighborhood
group working to preserve the plot, local nonprofits and a federal
grant. Councilor Betty Taylor, who introduced the motion, feels
that the city should do whatever it can to preserve the parcel.
"It's wooded land with rare growth, the kind of forest that
we don't have much left of," she says.
Southeast Neighborhood Association President Kevin Matthews
says that the land is especially critical because it contains
Amazon Creek headwaters. "It's a really important natural
resource area, and we'd love to see it protected one way or another,"
he says. "I'm glad that the City Council has endorsed a stronger
focus on solving that."
But on Aug. 15, Green's attorney, Mark Hoyt, wrote an e-mail
stating that the developer is not interested in selling the entire
parcel; he is only willing to negotiate selling a portion of the
land around the stream corridor. "Without a willing seller,
there's not anything more that we can do," Medlin says.
If the city's effort to purchase the plot fails, Green is likely
to pursue his preliminary plan to construct 105 to 111 new houses
on the property.
For more information about the effort to preserve the Nectar
Way forest, contact Lisa Warnes at
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