Salem seeks developers for former Union Gospel Mission site in north downtown
The city of Salem is seeking developers for BLOCK 50, an undeveloped portion of land in north downtown that was once home to the Union Gospel Mission, Saffron Supply and ABC Music.
The three-lot property comprises almost a full city block north of Chemeketa Street between Commercial and Front streets and is part of a redevelopment effort by the city's Urban Renewal Agency.
Ahead of UGM relocating its shelter to a new, bigger location in north downtown, Saffron Supply moving north, Runaway Art and Craft Studio moving and ABC Music Company closing, the city bought the properties with the goal of revitalizing the underused buildings, some of which were fire damaged and in poor condition from years of deferred maintenance.
The UGM properties were purchased by the city for $1.57 million. The Saffron properties cost $2.09 million. The ABC Music property cost $410,530.
Demolition and abatement on the property had to be completed before the city could open the land to developers. It began in late 2022.
City officials said the redevelopment property will ideally include a combination of commercial, retail and mixed-income housing.
“Redevelopment of this block will change the profile of downtown and add vitality, energy and usefulness to an area that is Salem's city-center gateway from the west,” Kristin Retherford, Salem’s Urban Development Department director, told the Statesman Journal in 2022.
City officials outlined several development goals for the site, including:
Serving as a catalyst and model for the revitalization and redevelopment of key formerly underutilized sites in downtown
Serving as a model of mixed-use, mixed-income housing development in downtown Salem that takes into consideration its proximity to the Downtown Historic District, Riverfront Park and the Capitol
Supporting bicycle and pedestrian connections
Benefiting local businesses, residents, and local economy
Providing new mixed-income housing development which includes a minimum of 20% of the units being affordable at an average of 80% median family income
Incorporating green building practices
Providing permanent job opportunities
Incorporating public open space
Those interested in working with the Urban Development Department must submit required documents no later than Aug. 31.
Documents can be submitted online or by mail or dropped off at the Urban Development Department, 350 Commercial St. NE, Salem, Oregon, 97301.
Depending on the completeness of the information provided and how much it aligns with the city's development vision, selected teams will be invited to an in-person meeting to detail their visions and outline how they plan to execute the project.
Property disposition will be through a Disposition and Development Agreement, an agreement between the urban renewal agency and private developer setting the terms and conditions of developing the land.
Additional information about the Block 50 project is available at cityofsalem.net/Block50 or by calling 503-540-2495.
For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter at @wmwoodworth
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem seeks developers for former Union Gospel Mission site
