[CapitalCity]

Here's the first ever thread for Oregon's capital city. Enjoy!

_________________________________________________________


295 Church
5 floors
Mixed-Use
Completed
http://www.295church.com/index.html
http://www.cityofsalem.net/export/departments/urbandev/images/295_church_aug_07.JPG


The Meridian
6 floors
Residential
Completed
http://themeridian.biz/
http://www.themeridian.biz/art/landmark_postcard.gif


Market and Broadway Mixed-Use Project Site A
1-4 floors
Mixed-Use
Currently U/C
http://www.cityofsalem.net/export/departments/urbandev/revitalization_rfdt_site_a.htm


YWCA Building Mixed-Use Project Site B
4 floors
Mixed-Use
Completed
http://www.ywcasalem.org/index.html
http://www.ywcasalem.org/images/broadway-entrance.jpg


Broadway and Gaines Project Site C
4 floors
Mixed-Use
Under Construction
http://www.cityofsalem.net/export/departments/urbandev/revitalization_rfdt_site_c.htm
http://www.cityofsalem.net/export/departments/urbandev/images/site_c_rendering.jpg


Salem Senior Center at Hollywood Station
2 floors
Residential
Completed
http://www.cityofsalem.net/export/departments/urbandev/revitalization_ng_hws_ssc.htm
http://www.cityofsalem.net/export/departments/urbandev/images/ssc_rendering.jpg


Rivers Condominiums
8 floors
Residential
Currently U/C
http://riverscondos.com/
http://www.riverscondos.com/product_images/2-1.jpg


Patient Tower
7 floors
Completed
http:/salemhospital.org/
http://www.djc.com/special/design2006/SalemHosp.jpg

[CapitalCity]

Patient Tower
7 floors
Currently U/C
http:/salemhospital.org/
http://www.djc.com/special/design2006/SalemHosp.jpg

Hmmm. Don't know how this got here.

[Echo Park]

any updates on 295 church?

[CapitalCity]

They just finished the top floor and know they're going to start on the interior of the building.

[Echo Park]

oh wow you actually replied.

i guess that backfired

[CapitalCity]

lol i was actually surprised anybody replied to this at all! i guess it's because Salem's not an as big and important city as the other ones on here.

[CapitalCity]

just incase anybodys interested, the meridian and patient towers have completed the top floors and are now working on the interior and the rivers condominiums have now started construction on the third floor.

[pdxman]

Thanks for the updates CapitalCity. I was recently down in Salem and it was nice to see all of the new building going on--especially in the downtown area. It is always nice to see parking lots turn in to buildings :)

[CapitalCity]

Oh i totally agree with you! I'm always hoping some old abandon lot downtown will turn into a condo :D

[CapitalCity]

The Senior Center construction is expected to be complete in September and the building should open in October.

[mSeattle]

Looks like Salem has a nice bit of low-rise infill going on.

[CapitalCity]

Ya, that's all thanks to the Salem Vision 2020 plan, to help revitalize downtown. And the mayor is all for downtown housing (which I hope will bring at least one highrise condo :) , but I don't know....)

[CapitalCity]

Here's another project that come up
The New Oregon State Hospital Building
Status: Proposed
http://www.preservehistoricsalem.com/2008/04/09/state-of-oregon-unveils-plans-for-new-oregon-state-hospital-building/
http://www.preservehistoricsalem.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/new-osh.gif

[Northeast79]

WaterPlace
6 floors
CB|2 Architects & Construction

http://www.waterplacesalem.com/graphic/summer2009.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2593168594_371802911a.jpg?v=0

Marion Park
8 Floors
Sienna Architecture

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3242/2781660891_a9fce426f8_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/2782517958_5448e6c4b5_o.jpg

Salem South Waterfront
5 Floors
Field Paoli

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3220/2850297117_a72409239d_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3087/2860694420_182372d285_o.jpg

Willamette University Building
4 Floors
Henneberry Eddie

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/2843387538_4fa1644d5b_o.jpg

Broadway Town Square
4 Floors
Arbuckle Costic Architects

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2046/2143608695_7a9a427621.jpg?v=0

[CapitalCity]

^^^Wow, thanks for posting those!

[pdxman]

^^^Yes, thank you for posting Northeast. I'm definitely looking forward to the Marion Park project, hopefully the city won't screw it up. I'm also intrigued to see renderings and plans for the Waterfront development. That project seemed to drop off the radar for a while but now hopefully it will get started. It would do wonders for that area. Thanks again!

[CapitalCity]

I agree with you 100 percent pdxman. That section of downtown has been ignored and now that the Boise plant is closed/sold, they have more area to do what they want with it.

And on the Marion Park project, from the aerial rendering, it looks like its on the site of a 3 level parking garage. If that's true, then it would make parking a hassel considering that it's right next to the mall.

[pdxman]

So it sounds like the Marion/WOU project will take the place of the parkade? That would knock out a chunk of the parking for DT, which would be interesting. I believe thats the largest parking garage in downtown. Other than the parkade that entire area needs an overhaul IMO. The movieland theater has gone from the best in salem to the worst and salem center mall has greatly declined as a shopping destination. Woodburn has superior shopping compared to salem!! The non mall portion of DT has a lot going for it with cool, old store fronts and big sidewalks. I wish they could exploit that more with shops instead of cramming them in to the mall. Thats just me though...

[CapitalCity]

Here's an article I found from Salem-News.com that is talking about the development of the Marion Parkade and a possible WOU campus on the site:


May-03-08

Proposed Development of Marion Parkade as WOU Mini Campus Moving Forward

Tim King Salem-News.com Business Report

The timeline is ambitious but they will waste little time developing the new project as long as negotiations move forward.


(SALEM, Ore.) - The face of downtown Salem could change in the near future if plans to develop a new Western Oregon University campus facility at the Marion Parkade continue to move forward.

The project, launched by Salem attorney and developer Kevin Lafky and his group, Marion Park LLC, has the potential to further diversify the city's downtown as the university's international program will likely be based there.

Lafky told Salem-News.com today that he believes the project has the potential for both regional and national significance, as solutions offered for communities that have under-utilized parking structures.

"It will be great for the WOU staff and students and Salem's downtown. A good number of high school students in Salem continue on to Western Oregon after graduation," Lafky says this could radically reduce driving time and cost for students in the local area.

"It is an opportunity for them to come in and have a significant presence downtown. There will be a mini-campus for the students to work and go to class, and the professors will have offices. It is a very logical plan that will utilize existing space."

Lafky's plan involves revitalizing the Marion Parkade parking garage, and adding apartment units on the top of the structure. Certain areas on the ground floor would be utilized for retail and classroom space.

The city of Salem appears to be listening to Lafky's idea.

"We’ve entered into an exclusive negotiating agreement with the city which means the city will only work with our group, Marion Park LLC, in regard to the renovation of the parkade."

The timeline is ambitious but Lafky says the need is already there, so as long as negotiations move forward, they will waste little time developing the new project.

"We hope to start construction this fall and be ready for the students from WOU in September 2009," Lafky said.

While the idea involving the international program being relocated to Salem is on the table, Lafky says it is still early in the game, and in the end the decisions about what programs are relocated to Salem are strictly the call of WOU.

"One of the things I want to emphasize is that while Western has talked about the international program being here in Salem, they want to keep the options open to not just bring international students here but other students and programs as well."

Anyone who spends time in downtown Salem knows that while progress moves steadily forward, the place can always use more energy and life. Most also would agree that Salem has an ongoing identity crisis in many respects as an Oregon city, plain and simple.

Salem, Oregon's population is an even mix of political and economic levels and backgrounds for the most part. A significant portion of the city's jobs are government positions at the state capitol and in a vast array of other state, county and even federal agencies and services that originate out of Salem.

Residents here lack the definition and self-identity of those in cities like progressive, bustling Portland with its skyscrapers and speedboats, or Eugene, known for left leaning politics, bike trails and "green" citizens who sometimes defend the natural environment as well as their University football team.

Salem used to be a city where other Willamette Valley kids came to cruise on weekend nights. For years, it was a destination for young people. Back in the 1950's and even later there were marinas on the river, and for a time there was a race track on Portland Road that drew a gathering of visiting hot rod fans to the capitol city. There were skating rinks and a drive-in theater, and lest we forget the big time rock bands that took the stage in Salem throughout the 1960's and 1970's.

That was the culture decades ago and it is different now. We seem to have lost something, but if Marion Park LLC moves ahead with plans to establish Western Oregon University downtown, it might even breathe the lost spirit of Salem back into what we know to be there.

The new convention center certainly allows Salem something to boast about. It does seem like adding more people from interesting parts of the world to the mix of the downtown population would help the city's residents get one step closer to discovering their own identity.

Having more international students could give Salem that edge that defines Oregon's capitol city as a historic place of cultural and international significance.

"The international student idea is a great opportunity for everyone, because many come from more urbanized areas." He says having these students in Salem will allow cultural crossover, a strong component to add to a growing downtown area like this.

"They are looking at other programs also," Lafky added. He says the options are vast and the university has also expressed interest in bringing in a nursing program and there is also discussion of collaboration with Salem Hospital, which would further benefit the local economy.

Technology like MySpace allows people to have friends in countries all over the world, but Lafky says this project will bring the world to our door.

http://www.salem-news.com/articles/may032008/wou_downtown_5-2-08.php

[CapitalCity]

The Salem Senior Center was just completed and opened October 6th. And is now called Center 50+
(sorry for such a big picture)

http://www.cityofsalem.net/export/export/departments/urbandev/images/Center_50_Plus_1.jpg
http://www.cityofsalem.net/export/departments/urbandev/revitalization_ng_hws_scc.htm