6 floors and 76,800 square feet of round-the-clock activity, guaranteed
to restart the heart of Eugene.

(Proposed) Named after Ken Kesey, and the honorary plaza and statue across the street, the center will be filled with the kind of art and economic projects he supported wholeheartedly. On the street, 20 indoor cooperative market bays -- part commercial, part educational -- a daily farmer's and crafts market echoing the success of Eugene's Saturday Market (the first in the US), which thrives only a block northeast of here. Locally made vegetables, bread, cheese, mushrooms, cloth, soap, etc. Upstairs, classroom, rehearsal and practice space for music, dance and movement (tai chi, yoga, a circus school, etc.) and offices for the organizations initiating them. The near-top floor will include studio work/live space for those involved in Kesey Central projects. The top floor, and the crown attraction of the building, will be a year-round botanical greenhouse and spa.

This is the general program for the building -- but the main tool for our approach is micro-rents. Instead of depending upon big, stable renters, one makes the leasing more robust, and one loosens up the economy, by providing good special-purpose space at a low daily or hourly rate.

Frequently asked questions Q. Wait ... is this a community project or a private project? A. A good project is good for the community & good for the economy. Community and market interests do not necessarily conflict. But it takes organizational work to create an ongoing healthy synthesis. Take the Saturday Market and the Farmer's Market -- obviously beneficial to the community, good for the economy, the health of the tenants, etc. The cost of renting a 64-square foot booth for one day, $10, does not seem high to the vendors. In fact, many more would rent, but space is limited. Multiplied to a month of rentals, market space at this rate would provide $4.68 sq.ft/month of income. So clearly, with a little organizational effort, developer and community interests merge. Q. Will a landlord be interested in renting to hundreds of changing renters? A. No -- that's why Urbanology will represent the community of renters, and develop this community. Q. Hundreds of renters still sounds chaotic. Wouldn't it be better to have one giant tenant, like JC Penny's, or Wal*Mart? A. No, hundreds of local tenants are more robust economically than one giant tenant. Tenants always turn over. When one small tenant decides to leave, it's no big deal. When a big tenant leaves, the building can stay empty for years! And, of course, renting to hundreds of small local tenants is better for the community, reaching more deeply into local potential, and putting money more directly into local pockets.