Downtown Salem development: Where key 2024 projects stand

Several projects underway promise to continue changing the landscape of downtown Salem.

A Statesman Journal story looking at key 2024 downtown projects highlighted the Rivenwood Apartments, the former city hall site and pit at High Street, the Block 50 spot once home to UGM and a parcel of land near Pringle Creek in south downtown.

A mid-year check-in on those projects show some are complete, others are in the works and some may take years to finish.

Old Salem City Hall site to become apartments

Once home to a 60,000-square-foot Nordstrom department store attached to Salem Center mall, the southeast corner of Liberty and Center Street was empty for years until crews demolished the building and sky bridge.

Deacon Development replaced the store with a five-story, 157-unit apartment building dubbed Rivenwood . The opening earlier this year brought a big increase in available housing downtown, a change city leaders hope will attract more businesses, entertainment and a grocery store.

With the Rivenwood project completed, Deacon Development is turning its sights to another underused corner downtown.

The developer plans to turn a parking lot and adjoining empty pit at 277 High St. NE into a 105-unit, mixed-use apartment building. A site plan was approved for the six-story building by the city in May.

Until demolition in 1972, the parking lot was the original location of the old Salem City Hall. It abuts "the pit," a fenced hole in the ground made after the First National Bank building was razed in 2016.

The design of the building will include a ground-floor commercial space, lobby, community deck, fitness room, resident community room and an on-site bike washing, storage and repair station. Developers said it will be designed to encourage people to use public and alternative transportation.

The mix of units will consist of studios and one- and two-bedroom units. The project is expected to cost $27 million.

According to city reports, 15% of the units will be set at affordable housing rates, which means the apartments will be affordable to families making 80% of the median area income.

Last year, the city approved a $749,999 grant for the building . In May, the Salem City Council voted to give a 10-year property tax exemption to the development as part of the city's Multiple Unit Housing Tax Incentive Program.

Block 50 set to bring hundreds of housing units, retail, possible grocery store to downtown Salem

Another empty block is due for a major makeover in the coming years.

The buildings once home to the Union Gospel Mission of Salem's men's shelter, Saffron Supply , Runaway Art and Craft Studio and ABC Music Co. north of Chemeketa Street between Commercial and Front streets were bought by the city to revitalize the stretch of downtown.

Some of the buildings were fire-damaged and in poor condition from years of deferred maintenance, and demolition and abatement had to be undertaken.

City leaders dubbed the project Block 50 and opened the site up for offers from developers. Earlier this year, Salem leaders voted to select Edlen & Co . and deChase Miksis to redevelop the property jointly.

Staff said the two developers' plan for the site most closely matched the city's vision.

The concept for the site is a mixed-use development that includes two phases of blended market rate and affordable multifamily housing with retail and public space.

The first phase along Commercial Street is set to include 140 apartments with 21 affordable units and 22,000 square feet of retail space with a plaza and accessible alley.

The developers presented the concept of having business incubators and smaller retail operations in this space.

"They want to pursue a grocery store," Kristin Retherford, Salem's director of Community Planning and Development, said in a February meeting with the Urban Renewal Agency Board .

After the completion of the first phase, project leaders would then turn their attention to the strip of land along Front Street. This is set to include another 90 units of housing, including 14 affordable units and onsite parking.

A total of 15% of units at the development would be considered affordable housing designed for those making 80% or less of the median area income.

City leaders said they are still in early negotiations regarding the disposition and development agreement of the project and wouldn't be able to provide a firm timeline for construction until the agreement was approved by the Urban Renewal Agency Board.

They said they anticipated taking it to the board in the fall.

If and when the DDA is approved, the design team will move forward with design and permitting, which typically takes a year.

Empty lot south of downtown Salem offers creekfront views

The city is also seeking to redevelop a parcel of land at 295 Commercial St. SE.

Years ago, the land was set to be a skilled nursing facility . But after the previous developers backed out and the spot remained empty, the city's Urban Renewal Agency purchased the land for $3.5 million with tax increment funds in 2023.

This summer, the city is working to finalize the submission requirements for developers, which at a minimum, would include the project idea, development team qualifications and project approach. Scoring preference will be given for affordable housing units and local developers.

The Downtown Advisory Board recommended that design creativity, the spot's relationship to nature and Riverfront Park, mixed-used and green building practices be considered as part of the selection process.

In the fall, the city will issue the solicitation for developers and expects to evaluate and select a developer this winter.

Design, land use and permitting is expected to move forward in the fall of 2025.

Retherford said the land's proximity to the Pringle Creek Path will give it unique access to the city's parks and pedestrian paths. It offers a view of Riverfront Park's Eco Earth and Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge.

The path is fully funded by state grants and the city's infrastructure bond and will connect miles of sidewalks and trails to Riverfront, Minto-Brown Island and Wallace Marine parks.

Public works officials said the city expected to issue a request for proposal on the path project this fall. Construction would then start in 2027 and continue through 2029.

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com , call 503-910-6616 or follow on X at @wmwoodworth

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Downtown Salem development: Where key 2024 projects stand