Salem Tomorrow Report 1984

7/26/2019 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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TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

Salem Airport

9

Summary Tables 30 41


4/75

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.


5/75

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.


6/75

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.


7/75

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.


8/75

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.


9/75

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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.


12/75


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14/75

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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18/75

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.


19/75

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


20/75

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


21/75

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.


22/75

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23/75

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.


24/75

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25/75

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26/75

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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31/75

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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.


32/75

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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.


34/75

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36/75

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


37/75

8

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.


38/75

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Documents

Salem Tomorrow Report 1984