The Ellis student housing rises near UO campus
Source: registerguard.com
TL;DR
- Site work started on The Ellis, a multi-family student housing project at East 13th Avenue and Alder Street near University of Oregon.
- Demolition in May 2022 cleared a 7-Eleven, Glenwood restaurant, and eight-unit apartment building for the high-rise.
- Adds hundreds of student beds amid campus-area growth, with construction disrupting local traffic.[[1]](https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/local/2025/09/05/the-ellis-multi-family-student-housing-university-of-oregon/85943762007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=pp&gca-ds=override)[[2]](https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/local/2025/09/05/the-ellis-multi-family-student-housing-university-of-oregon/85943762007)
The story at a glance
Construction on The Ellis began this fall at the corner of East 13th Avenue and Alder Street, one block from the University of Oregon campus entrance. Developer Alder Ducks LLC, led by California-based Eran Fields, replaced a 7-Eleven, former Glenwood restaurant, and eight-unit apartments demolished in May 2022. The article reports the long-planned project moving forward now as site work starts, amid a wave of high-rise student housing nearby.[[1]](https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/local/2025/09/05/the-ellis-multi-family-student-housing-university-of-oregon/85943762007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=pp&gca-ds=override)[[2]](https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/local/2025/09/05/the-ellis-multi-family-student-housing-university-of-oregon/85943762007)[[3]](https://www.arris-studio.com/projects/the-ellis)
Key points
- 12-story (some reports say 14-story) mixed-use high-rise with 260 units (around 580 bedrooms) aimed at UO students, plus ground-floor retail space for restaurants.[[3]](https://www.arris-studio.com/projects/the-ellis)[[4]](https://images1.showcase.com/d2/RHNAZ3XvIDIg19xQLCOfG7R9v6gVY5fpFwpg6Y88C5E/document.pdf)
- John Hyland Construction as general contractor; designed by Arris Studio Architects.[[5]](http://www.jhconst.com/portfolio-category/apartments-multi-family-student-housing)
- Site at 780 E. 13th Ave., signalized intersection with bike lanes and bus route, near PeaceHealth medical campus.[[6]](https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/780-E-13th-Ave-Eugene-OR/37692405)
- Construction has closed Alder Street to cars and sidewalks, affecting nearby businesses.[[7]](https://www.registerguard.com/story/business/2026/01/23/business-impacts-construction-13th-and-alder-apartments/88285077007)
- Part of three nearby projects adding nearly 1,100 beds in one block, including Chapter at Alder and Chapter at Eugene.[[4]](https://images1.showcase.com/d2/RHNAZ3XvIDIg19xQLCOfG7R9v6gVY5fpFwpg6Y88C5E/document.pdf)
Details and context
The project follows years of development since Eran Fields bought the site through Alder Ducks LLC; early plans from 2023 called for 12 stories. It joins a trend of high-rises along East 13th Avenue, driven by UO enrollment and housing demand, with off-campus options often cheaper than dorms.[[8]](https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/2023/01/30/13th-avenue-eugene-changes-construction-begin-12-story-student-apartments/69844981007)[[9]](https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/local/2025/06/11/uo-student-housing-chapter-at-alder/84037208007)
Amenities may include a rooftop pool, fitness center, study lounge, theater, and basketball court, though not confirmed in the original article.[[3]](https://www.arris-studio.com/projects/the-ellis)
Completion is slated for late 2027 or the 2026-2027 school year start, per leasing materials; retail like Raising Cane’s is joining ground floor.[[4]](https://images1.showcase.com/d2/RHNAZ3XvIDIg19xQLCOfG7R9v6gVY5fpFwpg6Y88C5E/document.pdf)[[10]](https://www.facebook.com/windowinstallationspecialists/videos/great-work-going-on-at-762-e-13th-ave-the-ellis-in-eugene-oregon-a-14-story-256-/1671676000853801)
Key quotes
None sourced directly from the article.
Why it matters
High-rise student housing like The Ellis addresses shortages near UO but reshapes the local skyline and streetscape in a busy campus gateway area. It means more beds for students—potentially 580—easing off-campus hunts, though with higher rents and traffic disruptions for residents and businesses. Watch construction progress and fall 2027 opening, as delays could shift timelines.[[4]](https://images1.showcase.com/d2/RHNAZ3XvIDIg19xQLCOfG7R9v6gVY5fpFwpg6Y88C5E/document.pdf)