City Council, July 22nd - Missing Architectural Details and the Final Boise Corner

Reed Opera House lost an ornament
It was later restored by a grant program

As Urban Renewal Agency, the City proposes to fund a "missing historic architectural grant program."

The City says:

In 2003, the RDURA [Riverfront Downtown Urban Renewal Area] offered a Missing Historic Feature Grant. This funded one project, which was successfully completed, and replaced an architectural feature that had been removed from the Reed Opera House Building. The goal of repeating this special grant is to show continued support for the preservation of downtown historic resources, and their contributions to the community.

In the FY 2025 Budget, the Agency Board approved $200,000 in funding for grants to replace missing historic architectural features that have been removed over time from downtown historic buildings. This is being called the Missing Historic Architectural Grant program and it is anticipated that these funds will support one or two grants.

The Historic Landmarks Commission, with support from staff, will be on point to review and select one or more projects to receive this grant funding. The application process and project criteria are being finalized and will align with several of the existing Riverfront-Downtown Urban Renewal Area (RDURA) Capital Improvement Grant guidelines. To determine if a proposed project will meet historic requirements, anyone who may want to apply for a grant will need to schedule a meeting with City of Salem Historic Preservation staff. Application submittals, review, and grant recipient selection is proposed to be completed winter 2024 with the goal that projects are completed by June 2025.

Adolph Block of 1880 (via Wikipedia)

There must be one or more buildings already with this in mind, and it will be interesting to learn more about them.

One that came immediately to mind is the missing cornice detail on 2/3 of the Adolph Block on State Street.

The swath of moderne remodels c.1940 would also be candidates, as they are missing a very great amount of historic architectural detail, but these would be much more ambitious projects than $200,000 could possibly support.

We'll be on the lookout for others!

Also on the Urban Renewal Agency agenda is a brief update on progress in flipping the abandoned corner and final Boise redevelopment parcel. You may recall a nursing home had been planned for there, and after that project was cancelled the City purchased the parcel and expects to send out a solicitation for development proposals this fall.

An update on the last Boise parcel (2023)

Though there does not seem to be much new here, the City reiterates:

The following summarizes the redevelopment vision and goals that the Downtown Advisory Board recommends be considered as part of the solicitation and development team selection:

• Design creativity
• Relationship to Riverfront Park
• Mixed-uses (commercial retail, office, housing)
• Maximize benefits of the proximity to Pringle Creek and Willamette River
• Encourage green building practices
• Building designs should reflect the high-visibility nature of the site and each side of the building should be considered front-facing due to proximity to the park, creek, Commercial Street, etc.

Proposals will need to demonstrate the ability to successfully carry out a real estate development and construction project of this nature. This includes a demonstrated ability and relevant experience (individual or collective) with public-private partnerships, financing, design, construction, and operation/management of mixed-use projects and mixed income, including affordable housing. It is expected that the development proposals will determine the most realistic and feasible uses for the site based on market demand, while recognizing the importance of supporting the Riverfront-Downtown Urban Renewal and South Waterfront Urban Renewal Plans, and Agency Board goals and objectives.

Maybe we'll finally get a waterfront, or creekside anyway, pub or restaurant!

Fencing for ARCHES

For something of a cooperative fencing project, ARCHES and Coldwell Banker on Union Street between Front and Commercial are asking for some funding help.

The ARCHES and Coldwell Banker properties have had a history of vandalism and crime due to the number of individuals congregating on the property, surrounding sidewalks, and Marion Square Park. On a regular basis, ARCHES experiences excessive trash, camping and illegal activity because the property is not secure and allows access 24/7. Over the years, ARCHES has hired security and taken other measures to reduce the crime and safety issues for their employees and clients who obtain meals and access services at this location.

Approve an exception to Strategic Project Grant maximum grant amount of $30,000 and allow the Community Planning and Development Director to execute a grant for up to $78,000 to Laurie Ann Rogers LLC, owner of the Coldwell Banker Building, to install a perimeter security fence and property access gates.

Approve exceptions to the urban renewal grant restriction on grants to non-profits and the Strategic Project Grant maximum grant amount of $30,000 to allow the Community Planning and Development Director to execute a grant for up to $90,000 to MWVCAA to install a perimeter security fence and access gate for the ARCHES property. 

It will be interesting to see how fencing affects Union Street, particularly whether people camping occupy more of the street space. Walking or biking there on Union Street there has not seemed, strictly speaking, dangerous, but it does require extra attention and the social environment distinct from infrastructure does not meet much of a "family-friendly" standard. It is not comfortable. Of course, those camping must endure much greater discomfort than a person walking or biking by for a block, but this remains something of a bottleneck for the bike system and encouraging greater numbers of people to bike.

Police chases trending down perhaps

Briefly

• A report on a "Belonging Survey" says "25.1% of all respondents shared that they either somewhat or strongly disagree with the statement 'I feel like I belong in the Salem community.' 60.7% of folks experiencing houselessness reported that they felt like they did not belong in the Salem community."
• There's a Police update on use of force, and others will have important things to say.
• And funding for a study to update fees on Parks, the Library, the Center 50+, and other recreation.