Officials in both cities hoped landing the project would be a huge boon for their respective Downtowns similar to what occurred in Tacoma, WA. In the early 1990s there, an abandoned railroad station was converted, spurring development of a University of Washington satellite campus, two museums and millions of dollars in other projects.

With the selection made, Eugene will be able to convert an eyesore into a landmark and jump start revitalization of the east end of its Downtown. The Chiquita site is one block from the current courthouse, which will remain in service as a Federal office building. That means all the related offices and businesses that support the current courthouse will not need to relocate.

One person who will need to relocate is John Woodrich, owner of AutoCraft Body & Paint at East Eighth and Mill streets, which will have to be razed to make room for the courthouse project. Last week, Woodrich ran a full-page ad in The Register-Guard, urging officials to choose a site in Downtown Springfield.