Riverfront Park & City Hall Additions

7/29/2019 Riverfront Park & City Hall Additions

1/6

A PROPOSAL FOR THE EXPANSION OF CITY HALL AND RIVERFRONT PARK

Geoffrey James A.I.A. Architect [email protected] for "SORPS" Salem Oregon Riverfront Park South Sept. 2013 https://www.facebook.com/SORPS

Page

1


2/6



Page

2

2013

THE RIVERFRONT PARK

Community groups in Salem are discussing the need for a south expansion of the Salem Riverfront Park. The ULI Urban Land Institute

plan of 2006 is the guiding document and is an element of the South Waterfront Urban Renewal Plan. The plan shows a southexpansion of the Park to encompass the mouth of Pringle Creek, i.e. both banks of the creek, and a Pringle Creek Linear Park east to

connect with the Pringle Parkway linear park system. We are also now beginning to look at the proposed City Hall expansion (they

need more space) and how that project might be coordinated with, or integrated into, the Riverfront Plan for mutual advantage of the

public and of park visitors.

Here is a link to the ULI Report.

http://www.cityofsalem.net/Departments/UrbanDevelopment/DepartmentProjects/BoiseProject/Documents/salem_uli_report.pdf

THE CITY HALL ADDITION

The Salem City Council and City staff are working on a plan for accommodating the proposed Police Department addition to City Hall,

but this work is hidden from public view. If we, the public, and home owners, are going to be asked to pay for it, through a future bond

issue vote, then maybe the public should have a say in the design. The current plan seems to be to build it on the east side of

Commercial, from an idea suggested by U of O students, and two architect consultants. and that idea would place the addition on

Commercial Street, opposite the Boise Cascade building, and taking out part of our Mirror Pond and landscaping.

COMMUNITY INPUT

Community groups are becoming aware that a recent development proposal was for apartments to be built within 20 ft. of the Eco Earth

and with their only access to be through the Riverfront Park (north). This has generated much community concern, and it is also clear

that proposal contained no promised land swap (previously offered) and that it violated both the Park and the ULI Plan.
http://www.cityofsalem.net/Departments/UrbanDevelopment/DepartmentProjects/BoiseProject/Documents/salem_uli_report.pdfhttp://www.cityofsalem.net/Departments/UrbanDevelopment/DepartmentProjects/BoiseProject/Documents/salem_uli_report.pdfhttp://www.cityofsalem.net/Departments/UrbanDevelopment/DepartmentProjects/BoiseProject/Documents/salem_uli_report.pdf


3/6



Page

3

THE PROPOSED PLAN

The community needs to discuss what makes sense, and needs to develop a overall comprehensive Urban Design Plan for both

important community facilities, i.e. the Park, and the Civic Center, i.e. how they are connected, and also how they are linked to

downtown and connected parks systems, i.e. to Minto, and to Mission Mill. As a starting point, for discussion purposes, an aerial photoof the area (see Page 1) shows how the Riverfront Park should be expanded south, similar to what the ULI Report recommended.

Basically, all the lands that are inaccessible or difficult to access are west of the railroad tracks and therefore should be considered for

inclusion into the Riverfront Park South, because they can then be accessed from Union on the north, State at the center, and Bellevue

at the south. Much of the waterfront area south of Pringle Creek is in the flood plain, so would partly flood every year or so, but park and

open space use and trails is a perfect solution or use for this property. The plan or graphic, shown on the front of this document, allows

for expansion of the Carousel Parking lot, and helps to provide parking and open space for the huge number of park visitors expected

to come to Salem to visit the new Minto Bridge. Another feature of the ULI plan is to daylight Pringle Creek, by removing its concrete

deck, which has mostly been accomplished. However, the ULI Plan (on the next page) shows a green linear park here, connecting the

Riverfront Park at the Eco Earth to Willamette University and beyond, via the Pringle Parkway linear park. The developer's current planfor "Pringle Square" shows the creek lined with concrete and parking lots. More green landscaping is needed, similar to the nearby

Pringle Plaza area near the post office. Cafes and outdoor dining and small shops would be wonderful, but should be in a landscaped

setting.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ADDITION

For the last two years the City has been looking at how to accommodate a Police Department addition. Currently the Police are in the

basement, and City Hall is expected to literally pancake in an earthquake, thus burying the "first responders". So the City also intends to

include a $15M seismic retrofit of City Hall to prevent this total collapse, and thus save lives. The total budget was $65M for this

addition, but it was expected to include relocation of Council Chambers to the Peace Plaza, and other alterations to City Hall beyond

structural strengthening.


4/6



Page

4

THE ULI Urban Land Institute PLAN (extract) http://www.cityofsalem.net/Departments/UrbanDevelopment/Department

Projects/BoiseProject/Documents/salem_uli_report.pdf This is the ULI graphic that shows south expansion of the

Riverfront Park.
http://www.cityofsalem.net/Departments/UrbanDevelopment/DepartmentProjects/BoiseProject/Documents/salem_uli_report.pdfhttp://www.cityofsalem.net/Departments/UrbanDevelopment/DepartmentProjects/BoiseProject/Documents/salem_uli_report.pdfhttp://www.cityofsalem.net/Departments/UrbanDevelopment/DepartmentProjects/BoiseProject/Documents/salem_uli_report.pdfhttp://www.cityofsalem.net/Departments/UrbanDevelopment/DepartmentProjects/BoiseProject/Documents/salem_uli_report.pdfhttp://www.cityofsalem.net/Departments/UrbanDevelopment/DepartmentProjects/BoiseProject/Documents/salem_uli_report.pdf


5/6



Page

5

CITY HALL AND THE RIVERFRONT PARK

The City actually owns the property across Commercial from the Civic Center and this is called the "Window to the West" It is preserved

as a "vista" from City Hall to the River. This group thinks this would be a perfect location for a City Hall Addition. The Mirror Pond should

not be built on and that the City Hall should therefore maintain its views north to the Convention Center and downtown. Building on thepond and opposite Boise would create a canyon-like effect with poor air quality and the partial loss of an important amenity, i.e. the

west part of Mirror Pond.

So, the site to the west is owned and available, and is only used for parking of police vehicles.

A City Hall Addition, if really needed, could be built there, and be connected to the main building by a skybridge (see the map). It would

enjoy dramatic views of Riverfront Park South. There could be two levels of parking decks, for staff and public use, and could be sized

to accommodate Riverfront Park visitors. The South entrance to the park is therefore proposed to be at Bellevue, and there could be

additional public parking in the area next to the Slough. A pedestrian bridge (which could be built in a day) would connect over Pringle

Creek to Eco Earth and the Minto Bridge.

A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Expansion of the Riverfront Park is recommended by the ULI Report, and civic groups.

Expansion of City Hall is recommended by Budget Committee and City Council is studying it, and currently favor a north addition. This

group may recommend that a west addition is a better solution, and be designed to be a gateway to Riverfront Park South, providing

additional parking and civic amenities.

This study will examine how the two can be physically connected, for mutual benefit of Riverfront Park AND the Civic Center, providing

additional public parking, for both, preserving views, of downtown, and of the River, creating a connected system of linear and riverfront

park, all the way from City Hall to the Minto Bridge, and to Riverfront Park and Pringle Creek linear park to Willamette University. What

a tourist attraction that will be.

IMPLEMENTATION

First, it is recommended that there be a series of community meetings, then a design "charette" like was done for the Fairview property.

consultants may be needed for detailed implementation, but the concepts can be discussed and developed by the community, with the

active help of the local AIA (architects) chapter.


6/6



Page

6

SO HOW DO WE PAY FOR THIS ?

Regarding the $65M City Hall Additions, the City plans to put it put to vote as a bond issue, citing the dangerous situation, whereby the

police offices will be buried when the "big one" happens (any year now) and the identified need to consolidate departments and leased

space, and make badly needed improvements to the original structure.Regarding the Riverfront Park South, the cost of acquisition has not been identified, but it would be an urban renewal project, using tax

increment financing, i.e. the way that Riverfront Park was financed. It will take many years to be able to accumulate sufficient funds for

acquisition and improvements, but it is important to put a plan in place, i.e. a detailed Refinement Plan of the ULI Plan concepts. The

land west of the railroad tracks should therefore all be within the Riverfront Downtown Urban Renewal Area so that these funds can be

incrementally set aside for acquisition and improvements. It may indeed take 20 years, but so did the Riverfront Park, and so did The

Minto Bridge, downtown skybridges, and the Conference Center (which is now a successful Convention Center).

COME JOIN US !

These are early days, but it is important to move ahead with a general direction and conceptual plan. We hope to develop these ideas

in the coming months in a series of community meetings.

KEEP IN TOUCH

A mailing list is being developed, and if you would like to receive email updates about meetings, workshops, and developing plans,

please add your name.

Also, a Facebook page is being created, so go to Facebook.com and look for Salem Riverfront Park South or click on

https://www.facebook.com/SORPS
https://www.facebook.com/SORPShttps://www.facebook.com/SORPShttps://www.facebook.com/SORPS

Riverfront Park & City Hall Additions

Documents

Transcript of Riverfront Park & City Hall Additions