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Transcript of Salem Tomorrow Report 1984
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SALEM TOMORROW
REPORT
By: R.L. Gertenrich
Geoffrey James
Frank Silkey and Michael E
.
Swaim
Word Processing and
e c r e t a ~ i a l
S ~ r v i e c s Kellie J. Swaim
April 9 1984
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{
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
The
Committee
2
The Goal
3
Introduction
4
Riverfront
6
Convention Center
and
Hotel
Minto Brown Island
Park
7
8 9
ikeways
Bush
Park
10 11
12
WaJJace Marine
Park
13
Streetscapes
and Improvements
Skywalks
14
5
Library
16
Historical
Districts
17
Northwest Textile
Center
18
Performing rts Center
19
Elsinore
Theatre
2
Grand
Theatre
Hospital Expansion
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21
22
North End Major Retailer 23
Parking Structures
24
ason ee Square
25
Senator Hotel Block
Site
Laundry Site Redevelopment
26
27
Willamette University 28
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i i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
Salem Airport
9
Summary Tables 30 41
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2
THE COMMITTEE
The persons preparing this
report
form a quasi-official committee working with
the blessing
of
the Mayor
of
Salem Sue Harris the Salem
City
Council and with
the
kind assistance
of
the
City
Staff especially Mr.
Robert
Briscoe and Mr. Robert
Maxey Community Development and Parks and
Recreation Department
heads
re -
spectively.
Dr. Roger L
Gertenrich
a
dentist
is presently serving on
the
Salem
City
Council.
Mr. Geoffrey
James
an architect is serving on
the
Downtown Development Board;
Mr
Frank Silkey a professional
illustrator
of
renowned abilities in
the
City of
Salem
has been involved in many development
projects
in
the
past; and Mr. Michael E. Swaim
Attorney is a member
of
the
Salem
Park
and
Recreation
Board
the
Tourist/Conven-
tion Commission Ad Hoc
Facilities
Sub-Committee and
the
Salem City Club Board
of
Governors.
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3
THE
GOAL
The goal of this
report
is
to
emphasize Salem's need for long-range, comprehensive
planning, while highlighting the truly
extraordinary
amount
of
development
activity
which is taking place in
the City of
Salem,
right here
and now -- despite an economic
climate
that
might dampen
the spirits of
lesser
hearts.
Although long-range comprehensive planning has
occurred
on a sporadic basis
in
the past,
it is
felt
that, at this point in time, such planning must be undertaken
in a current and continuing fashion. Towards this goal, the Salem Tomorrow Com
mittee
makes
the
foUowing recommendations:
(1) General:
To
establish an Action Plan
to
provide for
the
timely and con
tinuing long-range, comprehensive planning for
the
Salem Metropolitan Area.
2)
Specific: To update and
enlarge the
city s existing modular planning
model;
or
some functional equivalent; to keep it up to date henceforth; and to mount
it in
the
Council Chambers for reference and planning purposes.
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4
INTRODUCTION
As
-the
City
of Salem continues
to
evolve
as
one
of the
truly
aJJ
American
cities
in
the
United
States the
planning function has become increasingly recog
nized as a
important
joint effort on behalf
of
government, volunteer organizations
and the
citizens
who live
here.
Likewise, a
constantly
evolving plan which pro
vides for rational community development is
an important
facit by which a
community may market itself to
potential
business interests so as to insure
a diversified and healthy local economy. However, by far the most important
goal
o
planning is
to
assure
to the
citizens
who live in
the
community
that
their
hometown will remain a place
of
which
they can
be truly proud, by con
tinuing
to
provide
the amenities of life
which defines the quality
of
their exis
tence.
In
support
of these efforts
a smaJJ group
of
people, under the leadership
of
Councilman Roger Gertenrich decided that the
City
of Salem was in need
of
a big picture
report
incorporating a graphic display as
its
primary vehicle,
which would bring
together aJJ of the
prominent
areas of
development,
either
planned or in a
stage of
being planned,
that affect the greater
Salem
area.
By
bringing
the
various
projects together
in one
report
it is our hope
that
one
might
better
see,
at
any given point in
time
from whence we
came
where
we
are at present
and where we
appear
to be going. Not only would such a
report
give planners and decision-makers
an idea of
how
the
multi-colored
threads
will go
together
to
produce
the tapestry
which is Salem, by offering
them
at
a glance, a view
of
what is and what is soon to be,
but
it will also promote
ideas
of
what else
there
could be
that
would
complement the
whole. Likewise,
having
the larger picture before
them
wiJJ
give those
same
planners and decision
makers a better understanding
of
how changing one
part of the
fabric might
affect the remaining-
parts.
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Finally,
it
is hoped
that the
Salem Tomorrow
Report
will become a vehicle
to facilitate the City s efforts
to sell itself to
the private sector
beyond
the
city
limits by demonstrating to such prospective business
interests
how
their
business plans might well mesh with and
promote the
plans and aspirations for
this quality community, both now and in
the future.
Simply put,
the
hope for
the
Salem Tomorrow
Report
is
to
provide us with a graphic vision
of
tomorrow's
city
today, while measurably contributing to
its realization.
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6
RIVERFRONT
s
a resource, both' economically and aesthetically, the riverfront has been
long neglected in terms of development, though plans for
its
development were
addressed somewhat prominently
n
the 1973 Central Salem Development Plan.
At this point
n time
there
s
a renewed
interest n
moving forward with
activi-
ties which will focus attention on this area, thus promoting its development
n
the near future.
Plans have now been formalized which seek to purchase land between the
Marion Street Bridge and Court
Street
for future redevelopment. The anticipated
cost will be approximately one million dollars.
A Riverfront Greenway planning study
s
proposed for 1984-85 for the purpose
of establishing specific standards and guides for riverfront use and development.
Other plans relating to riverfront development that are currently being given
serious consideration, include the establishment of sailboat Jakes dredged out from
the present Boise Cascade lagoons and Jinked by jogging paths, tennis courts, a
marina, a bridge over Willamette Slough
to
Minto-Brown Island
Park
and
other
recreational
facilities
oriented
towards
the
full enjoyment
of the
river.
The Willamette Riverfront could be Salem s
best case
for emphasizing the
importance
of
comprehensive, Jong-range planning. Its
potential
for contributing
to the
economic viability
of
our
city
is limited only by our imaginations.
Funding Sources: Various, including approximately 5 miJJion dollars from
future
tax increment funds, not yet funded, along with
private
and possible federal partici-
pation.
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7
CONVENTION CENTER ND HOTEL
In recent
years
the
City has coalesced in
its
desire
to
establish a first-class
convention
center
and hotel;
the
only question has been one
of
selecting
the
best site
for such a facili ty. While a number
of sites
have been considered
in
the
last five years it appears that a riverfront location has become
the
over-
whelming first choice amongst citizens. and government officials. alike.
Efforts are currently
being made
to determine exactly
where such a facility
might be located
which
relates to
is
not
necessarily dependent upon
the
decision
of
the Boise Cascade Corporation respecting whether
or
not to maintain
operations
at
its
present
location on
the
riverfront.
Assuming that Boise Cascade will continue operations for
the
foreseeable
future at its present location the City is actively engaged in pursuing
other
riverfront parcels for this eventual use. There are current plans to purchase
land
located
between
the
Marion
Street
Bridge and
Court Street
for riverfront
development purposes.
Funding Source:
Facilities
development will be primarily through the private
sector with perhaps some partic ipation by the City through Urban Renewal
sources; land will be acquirea
at least
in part through
tax
revenues.
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8
MINTO-BROWN ISLAND PARK
The 308 acre Minto Island Park was purchased by the City in 1970 for $327 500.
Brown Island Park, immediately
adjacent
to Minto Island Park an
area
of some
523.8 acres was purchased by Marion County in 97 for $498,800. Marion
County, through trades added approximately 30 acres to the Brown Island Park
since its purchase in 1971, and deeded the total 552.22 acres
to
the City of
Salem in 1979. The two parcels, now totaling. 860.22 acres have been maintained
and planned together by the City of Salem, with a master plan adopted by the
City in December of 1973.
Originally,
the master
plan called for development
of
a
sports
field complex
with flood lights, manicured infields, permanent bleachers, fencing and support
facilities.
In
the last decade, however, the public's desire
to
preserve the.
exist
ing ecology of the
area
has led to a different concept resulting in plans for
park development with a minimum impact on the existing environment.
Present
plans
call
for a multiple-use activity field, jogging/bike trails a
family picnic
area
development
of
the
slough and
waterway
to
provide for
canoe routes, fishing, bank sloping, stabilization and landscaping.
A federal Corps of Engineers' grant (in the one-to-two million dollar range)
was recently approved for the purpose of providing flood control to the disinte
grating
east
bank along the Willamette River, which forms the west border
of
the park.
A bike-pedestrian bridge has been proposed
to
span the, slough towards
the northeastern end of Minto Island, and will provide the park with access
to and from the downtown area with a connection to the extended city-wide
bike trail system.
Finally, a parks opportuni ty purchase could add approximately 300
acres
of lagoons to the park, thus preserving the natural atmosphere of the
area
and,
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perhaps, providing a facility for inner-ci ty small boat sailing,
or
other compat-
ible uses.
Funding Source: Tax levy
dedicated
to parks,
federal
Corps
of
Engineers'
grant
and
tax
allocation
at
such time as the renewal area is expanded to include
this area and
the
Renewal Plan is amended to provide for these public actions.
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1
BIKEWAYS
The continuing emphasis on the establishment of a safe and interesting
system of bikeways in the City of Salem has given rise to a series of planned
extensions to the existing system. The City has approximately 14,000 to spend
annually from gasoline _ ax funds. However, the construction of bikeways is
comparatively expensive, and new sources of funds are going to be required
in order to
realize
the goals which have been identified to date.
In fiscal year 1986-1987, a bikeway is planned for construction from Minto
Island Road, along South River Road, to Croissan Creek Road. The
estimated
cost is 147,500, for which a new fund source will have
to
be identified before
construction can commence on this particular extension. This South River Road
extension would, with the cooperation of Boise Cascade, eventually become
a part of a bikeway which would traverse the east side of the Willamette River,
continuing through the entire downtown
area
along the River, and ultimately
lead
into
north Salem and Keiser.
Within Minto Island
the trail
continues throughout Minto Park
to
a proposed
bike/pedestrian bridge spanning
the
slough
to
the
downtown
area.
From
the
downtown
area
the
trail
continues to the new Willamette River bridges, thus
providing access
to
Wallace Marine Park, through West Salem, and ultimately
leading out of town to Monmouth, Dallas, and even the coast.
In
the downtown area the bike trail from West Salem could proceed
east
to to the City Hall complex, thence to Pringle Creek Park, and from there
south
to
Bush Park,
east to
the Cascade Gateway Park, or if a bike/pedestrian
bridge could be
constructed
spanning Mill Creek at Capital Street east of the
hospital, the path could continue through Willamette University and the Capitol
Mall.
When
one considers the existing bikeway system, as augmented by both
planned extensions and future possibilities, it is not difficult
to
conceive of
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the
City
of
Salem
ultimately
enjoying
the benefits
of a
truly
bicycle-friendly
system, which could easily function as an alternative
transportation
option for
a significant
percentage of
our
citizens
not unlike the experience which one
is quick
to
observe in
certain parts of
Western Europe.
Funding Source: Gasoline taxes and new sources
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2
BUSH PARK
Bush Park, perhaps
the
premiere park facility within the City
of
Salem,
has not been overlooked in
the
process
of further
improving upon
the
various
amenities enjoyed by the
citizens of
our community.
At
present there are plans to pave the
large
parking lot off Mission Street
south
of
Salem Hospital. Likewise, improvements are scheduled for
the
Yew
Park entrance
new lighting scheduled for Phillips softball field, and improvements
to be made to the bike/jogging trails.
Not
to
be overlooked,
the
Deepwood House,
nestled
in
the northeast corner
of
Bush Park, is
slated to receive newly-constructed
restroom facilities in
the
near future.
Funding Source: Existing parks
tax
levy.
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3
WALLACE MARINE PARK
The City
of Salem has recently initiated a substantial financial commitment
to the development of a major sports complex. New, tournament quality softball
fields,
soccer
fields, and fields
adaptable
to lacrosse, flag football, along with multi-
activity play areas are under consideration. for
this
park, with the
result of
broadening
our city s recreational capacity.
Other
amenities to round
out the
full potential of this park could include a
small
concert/band
shell for summer lawn entertainment and, perhaps, Fourth of
July celebrations; a Willamette River beach swimming area;
an acquatic center;
all
of
which would be more easily accessible via
an
improved Glenn Creek Road,
which will serve
as the
primary
access to the
park.
Funding Source: Parks levy and, possibly, Federal Land and Water Conservation
Funds.
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4
STREETSCAPES AND IMPROVEMENTS
In recognition of the
fact that
there is an important relationship between shopper
amenities and economic productivity, the City of Salem has undertaken an aggressive
approach towards streetscapes and street improvements, with the goal of providing
an
attractive
and
interesting
environment for shoppers and visitors within
the
down-
town
core.
There are a number of facets planned
to
implement this concept: construction
of weather protection
structures
(awnings of various types); establishment of sidewalk
bulbs at
street
corners
to
facilitate crossing
the
major
streets;
paving alleyways
and crosswalks with brick pavers;
creation
of kiosks for various economic and informa-
tion functions; placement of
street
furniture;
construction
of ornamental
street
lighting; establishment of mini-parks, and planting
trees. t
is anticipated
that these
kinds of
street
improvements will
cost
somewhere in
the
neighborhood of $800,000
for
the
fiscal year 1984-85, including weatherization and
the
initial construction
costs
of
skywalks, and funding has been approved from
tax
increment funds.
In addition to the functional kinds of improvements, the
City
is also pursuing
purely aesthetic qualities as well. For example, a mural is planned to be created
on
the
eastern wall of
the
Elsinore Theatre; the
anticipated cost
will be $20,000,
which will be paid through the efforts of the Mid-Valley Arts Council, the Salem
Art Association, and Western Oregon State College, and is anticipated to be installed
in
the
summer of 1984.
Further the
use of old-fashioned lam post systems under
consideration would add a unique flavor
to
the downtown area.
Finally, a marquee system is being contemplated for
the
Semler Building,
at
the
corner of
Commercial and
State
Streets
which will provide
weather
protection,
and the
anticipated cost
for this improvement is $14,800.
Funding Sources: Primarily tax increment funding, plus $34,000 from the Weather
Protection Fund,
and
$20,000
to
be raised, by contribution, for
the
mural.
An
addi
tional $125,000 of tax allocated funds will be available for the Weather Protection
Program commencing in July 1984.
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15
SKYWALKS
While
other
sections
of the
country have
either torn
down existing structures
in order
to
establish enclosed shopping malls,
or
turned
over other
open spaces
to
this use,
the City of
Salem has
directed ts attention
to accomplishing much
of the
same
result
without
the
need of such extensive demolition, reconstruction,
or diminishment
of
open spaces. The answer in Salem
appears
to be the establish-
ment of
skywalks in the downtown
area.
A skywalk is an above-ground, pedestrian bridge system which interconnects
adjacent
buildings with
interior
corridors, thus permitting pedestrian
travel
above
grade across
city streets.
Such structures would allow shoppers to traverse
the
downtown
commercial
area
without leaving a controlled,
not
the least
of
which
is dry, environment. In essence, the effect will be one of creating a shopping
mall effect with unlimited
access
to commercial establishments without competing
with either automobiles or the
elements.
The first- skywalk will
connect J.C.
Penny's with Nordstrom Mall, and
construc-
tion on this
first
link is proposed for
the
fall
of
1984, with public bid and
contract
to be awarded during the summer
of
1984.
The City, through
its
Urban Renewal Agency, will
act
as a catalyst using
tax
increment financing. The building owners and tenants will execute a promissory
note
to purchase the skywalk from
the City
over a
15
year period, with 10 inter-
est. Anticipated
total cost
for
the initial
span will be approximately
250,000,
presently
1
funded, and
it
is
anticipated that
t will open in
the fall of
1984.
There-
after
additional links
are anticipated to
be
constructed between other
major
facilities
in
the
core
area.
Funding Source:
250,000 of tax increment
funds, coupled with
private retailer
pay-back system.
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6
LIBRARY
A new parking structure has been recommended by the Library Board for
development on the site' of the present ground-level parking lot of the municipal
library. Present plans project construction for fiscal year 1986-1987, with an
estimated
cost of $550,000. Either general obligation bonds or a new funding
source would need
to
be developed for this purpose.
There is also considerable interest being expressed in developing an Informa
tion/Technological/Audio-visual
Center
perhaps on
the
top floor of
the
parking
structure.
A skywalk bridge could be constructed which would connect the
Information/Technological/Audio-visual
Center
in
the
parking
structure
with
the main library for the convenience and
safety
of both facilities. The projected
cost of
that
facility, excluding a skywalk, would be $300,000, funded by general
obligation bonds, new funding sources, and, perhaps, a federal grant. Projected
date of construction of this facility would be in fiscal year 1988-1989. There
is no projected cost for a skywalk at this
time.
Construction of additional library facilities in West Salem is also proposed
at this point, perhaps in the soon-to-be-constructed Roth Shopping
Center
at
a cost of approximately $75,000; likewise, facilities
are
proposed for a Northeast
Salem branch,
at
a
~ o s t
of $255,000, and a South Branch,
at
a
cost
of $188,000.
However, all such
projects are
currently unfunded, and will likely
rely
upon
general obligation bonds, or some new funding source, if
they
are to be realized
as anticipated.
Funding Source: Unfunded at present, but
anticipated
funding will most likely
be through a combination of general obligation bonds, new sources, and, perhaps,
federal participation.
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17
HISTORICAL DISTRICTS
There is a dawning recognition that an historical district
or
districts in
the
core
area of the ity may well play a role, and perhaps an important one,
in
its revitalization
goals. It appears
that the
downtown commercial
area
has
been casting about for a
theme
sometimes subconsciously, around which to
organize
its
revitalization efforts; perhaps it has found that
theme
in
the
con
tinued
existence
of the many fine old buildings that have avoided the wrecker s
ball downtown, and have
recently
become ,an
important
focal point for future
preservation in
the city.
Competing with .the idea
of
an historical
district
is
the
National Register
Nomination Program, wit h
the
latter determining qualification, and thereby
preservation, on a
case-by-case
basis. However,
it
is well-recognized
that
such
a
case-by-case
approach does
not
seem to give
the
kind of coordinated and
concentrated
historical emphasis
sufficient
to become a major factor in an
ag
gressive revitalization
effort.
Thus,
the trend
appears to be towards establishment
of
historical
districts
where appropriate.
Accordingly, the Salem Historic Landmarks Committee is pursuing
the
de
. velopment
of
a position paper respecting the establishment of
an
historical
district
in the
ity
core and the Chairman has appointed a subcommittee to
pursue the matter
further.
Further
an Ad Hoc Committee
of
the Salem
City
Council has recommended
that CANDO, the downtown neighborhood association, poll the appropriate older
downtown businesses
to ascertain their interest
in establishing such small historic
districts.
Funding Sources:
1.
Private
with
the City
providing informational services.
2. Potential future
partial
funding via a downtown revitalization economic
revolving Joan fund now under consideration
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NORTH WEST TEXTILE CENTER
This unique attraction blending history, crafts-design and tourism, recalls
Salem's one-time importance in the Northwest textile industry, while turning
the
historic Mill into a vibrant center for textile teaching, design, and produc
tion.
Built around the Thomas Kay Woolen Mills, now functioning
as
the Mission
Mill Museum, the Northwest Textile Center has already raised approximately
615,000 towards its 2.4 million dollar goal, and planning, construction, and
hiring personnel are already underway.
The money raised
to date
is being used
to
reconstruct the
dye house,
to
start
the cottage
industry store for marketing home textile production, to install
an
elevator
in
the
four-story main building, and to finish
the
organization of
the of fices and
stores
in the warehouse complex.
It is
anticipated
that
the
dye house will be completed and
the
cottage
industries open to
the
public,
by the
end
of
1984.
By
January
of 1985
weaving
will be underway on
the
main building's fourth floor and,
by
the summer
of
1985 the
facility will be completly open for tourists complemented by a fasci:.
nating museum of antique mill equipment, workshops, and a marketing program
fully established.
Funding Source: Private contribution, charitable trust grants and City of Salem
Contributions.
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