North Salem Urban Renewal Board Looks at 10-year Project List on Thursday

The North Gateway Redevelopment Advisory Board meets on Thursday the 7th, and in the meeting packet is an interesting list of short- and medium-term projects for the North Gateway Urban Renewal Area.

There's not much of an explanation or other memo with the list, and it looks like the list should be taken as draft concepts for discussion, not anything adopted and formally programmed. It looks more like advanced brainstorming, still.

But it's very interesting, and the projects are far enough along that they are all plausible. Maybe they are farther along and the main question is timing and how they fit into the tax increment income flows for the district. They are ones to follow for sure.

Several of the projects relate to a parcel that the URA was going to purchase a year ago (and presumably did purchase).

The Urban Renewal Agency proposed to buy an awkward wedge
at 2640 Portland Road

Some transportation highlights:

• $2.6 million in 2022 to "Establish a left turn lane from Silverton to 17th Street to improve traffic flow and safety at the intersection. A traffic signal would also be included."
• $2 million in 2024 for "Costs associated with site preparation and potentially contributing to construction as it aligns with the goals of the URA for redevelopment of 2640 Portland Road NE and potentially other adjacent sites in the corridor."
• $1 million in 2026 of "Additional funding to continue enhancing the streetscape in order to complement future development including; lighting, sidewalks, landscaping, street furnishings, murals, sculptures, and other associated enhancements."
• $2 million in 2023 to "Provide full street improvements (lights, sidewalks), in addition to necessary upgradesto the water and storm systems along Niles Avenue. Project would be completed in conjunction with funding from Public Works."
• $4.7 million in 2025 to realign Pine Street at Silverton Road: "A significant amount of traffic turns via Portland Road to reach Pine Street and Silverton Road. The turns at Silverton Road and Portland Road are challenging due to the skewed angle of the intersection. A realignment of Silverton Road to align with Pine St. at Portland Rd. would have all turning traffic at 90 degree turns, which is safer."
• $2.7 million for a path around the stinky RR underpass in 2027! "Alternative to Portland Road Underpass, could potentially be done in conjunction with other area development."
• $6.25 million for multiple projects on Salem Industrial Drive in 2026: "4,000 ft. street improvement project including widening to accommodate one vehicle and one bike lane in each direction, sidewalks along both sides of the street, planter strips which would also provide storm water quality facilities;" "Construct 12 foot wide pedestrian-bicycle path;" and "Construct new collector street, wider sidewalk on east side of street, bridge and/or fill over Claggett Creek."

The North Gateway Redevelopment Advisory Board meets Thursday the 7th at 8:00 AM in the Center 50+, Classroom A, 2615 Portland Road NE.