Eugene Reaches Redevelopment Deal for EWEB Steam Plant

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The city of Eugene has signed a redevelopment agreement to revitalize the long-vacant EWEB Standby Steam Plant, an industrial eyesore in the city's downtown riverfront neighborhood. The plans call for preserving the historic building and converting it into a mixed-use community space with retail, office, and public amenities.

Why it matters

The EWEB Steam Plant has sat vacant for years, contributing to blight in an otherwise vibrant riverfront area. This redevelopment deal represents an opportunity to breathe new life into the site, preserve an important piece of Eugene's industrial history, and create a new community hub along the Willamette River.

The details

Under the agreement, the city will work with developers to catalog the building's materials, initiate the process to list it on the National Historic Register, and assess the structural work needed to stabilize the facility. The goal is to transform the former steam plant into a mixed-use complex featuring retail, office, and public spaces that will activate the riverfront neighborhood.

• The redevelopment agreement was signed on April 6, 2026.
• Historic preservation activities and building assessments are set to begin immediately.

What’s next

The city and developers will now begin the process of cataloging the steam plant's materials, assessing the structural needs, and initiating the historic preservation process to list the building on the National Register.