Tiffany Building Listed For Sale, Raises Questions About Downtown Housing

A prominent historic block in downtown Eugene moved toward an uncertain future when the Tiffany Building was listed for sale on November 17, 2025 with an asking price of $3.3 million. The National Register of Historic Places property occupies the corner of Willamette Street and 8th Avenue and combines residential and commercial uses that are deeply woven into the local real estate and neighborhood economy.

The mixed use building contains 18 studio and one bedroom apartments above roughly 6,473 square feet of ground floor retail space that currently houses several local businesses. Ownership on the listing was identified as Tiffany Building LLC. Simple arithmetic underscores the scale of the offer, with the asking price equivalent to roughly $183,000 per apartment when divided by the residential unit count, and about $510 per square foot when compared to the stated retail footprint. Those headline figures do not account for building condition, rental income, or potential revenue from the retail spaces, but they illustrate why prospective buyers and community stakeholders will examine the asset closely.

Built in 1902 and enlarged in the 1910s, the Tiffany Building has survived notable fires and a century of retail turnover. Its listing matters to Lane County residents not only for its heritage value but because it represents rare small scale rental housing stock downtown. Changes in ownership can lead to different operating strategies, which could include renovation, repositioning, or seeking higher rents. Because the building sits on the National Register of Historic Places, potential buyers may be able to access state or federal historic tax credits if they pursue certified rehabilitation work, while also facing additional review if they seek public incentives.

Market implications extend beyond a single property. Downtown Eugene has limited inventory of small apartments above retail, and a sale that leads to rent increases or conversions could tighten supply for low and moderate income renters. Commercial tenants who occupy the ground floor face an uncertain lease environment if a new owner pursues higher rents or different uses. Conversely, rehabilitation under historic preservation programs could stabilize storefronts and preserve affordable units, depending on financing and regulatory choices.

Local policymakers will be watching the sale for its implications on housing policy and downtown commercial vitality. City planning and housing officials have tools that can influence outcomes through zoning, historic preservation review, and programs that encourage affordable housing retention, but the ultimate path will depend on the priorities of the next owner and market conditions at the time a transaction closes.

For residents and business owners on Willamette Street, the listing is a reminder that downtown's physical fabric and affordable housing options can shift quickly when landmark properties change hands. The Tiffany Building's sale will be an early signal of how investors value mixed use historic assets in Eugene and what that means for neighborhood stability.