Developer offers luxury apartments in heart of Eugene

EUGENE, Ore. - The Park Place apartments offer posh accomodations in a former feed store, the latest luxury apartment building to open in downtown Eugene.

"It used to be like a feed store and a little chinese herbal store," said developer Steve Master. "The whole apartment is kind of modeled as a modern feel to it - luxury apartments."

Units feature granite counter tops, Euro-style cabinets, state-of-the-art appliances and lots of storage.

"It's one thing our research showed us, that more storage space is better," Master said.

Master's research also told him to market Park Place toward empty nesters, graduate students and young professionals.

Ten of the 24 units in the building between Park and Pearl streets have been rented or leased already - and the apartments don't even open until Aug. 15.

City analysts aren't surprised.

"We have had incentives for downtown housing for years, so we absolutely are trying to attract more housing downtown," said Denny Braud, senior development analyst with the City of Eugene.

There are more apartments in the works for the downtown core at a project called the Broadway Lofts. 

It's another Master project. "It's going to be a different format than" Park Place, he said, "a little more industrial feel."

Rents at Park Place will run you $815 a month for the studio units to $1,850 for the 2-bedroom apartments.

Master believes that's not too pricey for an upscale living experience.

"For me it's beautiful apartments in an amazing location," he said, "in the heart of Eugene."