Developer Requested Height Waiver for Eugene Apartment Tower
The firm seeks to exceed local zoning limits by adding a rooftop pergola to its student housing project.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Apartments
Live Poll
Should developers be allowed to bypass local height limits to increase housing unit production?
Developer CRG has applied for a height waiver to increase its student apartment tower to 169 feet. The proposal would exceed Eugene's 150-foot zoning limit in the area near the University of Oregon.
Why it matters
CRG claims the 19-foot rooftop pergola is essential to achieve necessary rental rates and occupancy levels. If approved, the project could become the second-tallest building in Eugene.
The planned 16-story tower at Alder Street and 13th Avenue currently stands at 11 stories and will feature 133 apartments with 491 beds. Developers are citing Senate Bill 1537, which allows for height increases of up to 20 percent.
The players
CRG
The developer is responsible for constructing the student apartment tower at Alder Street and 13th Avenue.
University of Oregon
This institution is located adjacent to the development site and influences local zoning regulations.
The details
The developer submitted the request in September 2026, arguing that the project is not financially viable without the proposed rooftop amenity. The city has already utilized the provisions of Senate Bill 1537 to approve waivers for 10 other housing developments.
Timeline
Senate Bill 1537 was enacted in 2024.
The developer submitted the waiver request in September 2026.
The city will decide on the request in the coming weeks.
Culture Shift
The project follows a pattern set by Oregon Senate Bill 1537, which allows housing developers to exceed local zoning height limits by up to 20 percent. This reflects a broader trend of utilizing state-level overrides to accelerate housing density in university-adjacent urban corridors.
Residents and students should note that the approval of this waiver could permanently alter the skyline near the University of Oregon. If approved, the project will add 491 beds to the local rental market once construction reaches its planned 16-story height.
The takeaway
The ongoing construction highlights the tension between local zoning constraints and state efforts to boost housing supply. Developers continue to test the limits of legislative exemptions to maximize project feasibility in high-demand student housing markets.
Further reading
For more information on housing development projects in the city, visit Eugene Apartments.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Eugene Weekly.
Live Poll
Should developers be allowed to bypass local height limits to increase housing unit production?
