Biz Beat 4-9-2015

Whole Foods is preparing to begin construction in April for its new store downtown that will take up one full block near The Shedd Institute at 8th and Broadway. Two buildings on the site will come down and the new store of about 38,000 square feet is expected to open in March 2016. This project has been relatively uncontroversial. Whole Foods made headlines in 2006 when the company proposed a 50,000-square-foot building in the same area, but required city subsidies of $8 million for a 500-car adjacent parking garage to be shared with the city. Locally owned natural food stores objected to unfair competition from a subsidized chain store. And some city officials questioned the need for another parking garage downtown when nearby city parking garages at the time were half vacant. See our story from 2006 at wkly.ws/1zd.

The 183-unit Hub on Campus Eugene complex by Core Campus is scheduled to open in August and is leasing now.The building at East Broadway and Franklin Boulevard is designed by Karen Herold and her team at Studio K “with the goal of refining the apartment housing experience,” according to a press release. The Hub’s amenities for residents include a fresh food and juice bar, a 8,300-square-foot rooftop deck with panoramic views of the city and a heated resort-style pool, hot tub and fire pit with lounge area, plus a game room.

 Meanwhile, Northwest Alliance Corvallis held a press conference March 31 at Corvallis City Hall to address objections to another Core Campus project, the proposed Hub at Corvallis student complex with 836 beds and 734 parking spaces. Land use attorney Daniel Stotter represents the alliance in opposition and says he expects the project to be denied. “It appears that the applicants have taken a very aggressive posture, by refusing to cooperate with the planning staff, and by suggesting they intend to pursue legal actions rather then work with the city to address the land use requirements,” Stotter says in a prepared statement. Corvallis planners are recommending denial of the application.

The annual GloryBee Bee Weekend runs 9:30 am to 5:30 pm Friday, April 10, and 9 am to 4 pm Saturday, April 11, at the GloryBee Factory Store, 29548 B Airport Road, directly off of Hwy. 99. During the two-day event, more than 800 packages of bees will be placed with local beekeepers. The event features live on-site demonstrations, honey sampling and family-themed activities. Call Kristin at 689-0913 ext. 181 or see glorybee.com for more information. 

The nonprofit Eugene Peace Choir is looking for a new music director, a part-time paid position, and is also planning a fundraising workshop series on Nonviolent Communication with Kristin Collier beginning April 18. Preregistration for “Growing Peace Through Compassionate Communication” is requested by April 15 by emailing julia@eugenepeacechoir.com or call 968-5896. Suggested donation is $100 for the four Saturday morning workshops, but no one will be turned away.

The 25th annual LCC Job Fair will be from 10 am to 2 pm Thursday, April 16, at the Center for Meeting and Learning, Building 19, on the main campus. Bring a resume and prepare a pitch. Door prizes include $100 gift certificates for classes and gift cards. Find a list of participating employers at lanecc.edu/ces/upcoming-events or call 463-5687.

Artists and vendors take note: The Maude Kerns Art Center has extended the deadline for submissions for Artists’ Marketplace to Monday, April 13. Applications are available online at artandthevineyard,org for the Art and the Vineyard Festival to be held July 3-5 at Alton Baker Park.