During a recent government meeting, community members voiced strong support for the accelerated Multi-Unit Property Tax Exemption (MUFTA) pilot program, emphasizing its potential to enhance housing availability and stimulate downtown Eugene's commercial growth. Tiffany Edwards, representing the Eugene Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the program as a crucial tool for generating stable property tax revenues over the next decade, which would benefit city services.

Edwards urged the council to optimize the pilot's effectiveness by reducing public benefit criteria that could complicate and prolong the development process. She argued that easing these requirements would encourage developers to focus on building housing in the urban core, ultimately addressing the city's housing imbalance. Currently, downtown Eugene has a high percentage of subsidized units, and Edwards contended that allowing developers to respond to market demand would help lower rents without relying on subsidies.

Joshua Burstein, a resident and worker in downtown Eugene, also expressed his support for the accelerated Multi-Unit Property Development (MUPD) initiative. Drawing from his experience on the downtown urban renewal district expenditure review panel, Burstein emphasized the importance of community engagement in shaping effective housing policies.

The discussions reflect a growing consensus among local stakeholders on the need for innovative solutions to Eugene's housing challenges, with the MUFTA pilot program positioned as a key strategy for fostering a vibrant and sustainable urban environment.