In the coming months, Symantec officials will compare downtown sites to others in Eugene and Springfield, including Riverfront Research Park near the University of Oregon, Greenhill Technology Park in west Eugene, Chad Drive in north Eugene, and the Gateway area of Springfield. If Symantec is looking for a corporate handout, Springfield is the place to go. Symantec's decision will be a test of downtown Eugene's progress - and give a signal of the direction downtown is headed. It also will highlight Symantec's priorities. If cost is Symantec's main consideration, downtown is a tough sell.
Land costs two to three times more per square foot downtown than in outlying areas.
And none of the Eugene sites can offer the tax breaks of Springfield. John Sorci, Symantec's facilities director at corporate headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., said the company will consider subsidies in its review, but that won't drive the decision. But ultimately, we're not going to go somewhere that doesn't make sense just to save money. Downtown, it would cover at least a half-block and rise eight to 10 stories, estimated Eugene property appraiser Rick Duncan. Picture two U.S. Bank buildings at Willamette Street and Eighth Avenue.