About Salem's Downtown Salem

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Downtown Salem Oregon October 21, 2011

There are many Real Estate options for downtown Salem Oregon these days. Many turn of the century homes surround the downtown Salem area including homes around Bush Park, Fairmount Hills and North of the Capital Mall. Some developers felt there was a demand for downtown condo style living and thus 3 large contemporary condo complexes were born.

The Meridian, located at 777 Commercial St. S consists of 89 units, many of them unfinished condos ranging from 1 bedroom 845 SF units on up. Many of these condos have views over the Willamette River and the surrounding commercial landscape.

The Rivers Condos located on Front Street is arguably the most desired location as it sits across from Salem's Riverfront Park & Salem's Riverfront Carousel with views of the Willamette River to the West. This complex consists of 8 stories and offers residential units as well as commercial units on the ground floor.

• 22 luxury condominiums ranging from 935 - 4,159 sqft.
• 3 live/work units on 2nd and 3rd floor ranging from 935 - 4,159 sqft.
• 2 ground floor retail with floor-to-ceiling windows 1,333-5,552 sqft.

These condos are pricey, which may be the reason why only one has sold. Their asking prices range from $183,000 for a small unit to around $1,000,000. The units are roughed in, but await your custom finishing touches.

Another condo complex that was completed is 295 Church. This condo complex consists of units ranging from 894 SF to 1500 SF. Their prices range from $174,000 to $237,000 depending on location and views. Some of these units overlook Pringle Park with Gambretti's Itialian Restaurant and Creekside Flyfishing shop nearby.

It is evident that the developers were a little over anxious in providing abundant upscale condo living in downtown Salem as many of these units are left vacant. The hope is that when the economy recovers, then these condos will sell along with many other exciting developments to come to fruition in the downtown Salem area. Real Estate in downtown Salem offers may options to the buyer who desires to be in the middle of it all, and this market has great potential to grow to be an even healthier and more vibrant community!

Downtown Salem Oregon offers exciting events and attractions for people looking to reside in the hub of the state's capital. The attractions within Willamette University, Salem Conference Center, the Capital Building, & Bush Park offer a robust influence providing diversity throughout Salem.

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*MLS information is deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

Last week I blogged about phase 1 here of a recent volunteer project and I promisted you an update on phase 2 of the H.O.M.E. Youth Resource Center... so here it is.

The following weekend, January 31st, three members of Mid Valley Professional Stagers (MVPS), along with the generosity of one community member and three men from the National Guard, we tackled the removal of carpet and the pad throughout the main and upper level of the resource center. Two local contractors also contributed services by relocating the washer, dryer and 2 refrigerators as well as installing a wonderful storage solution for the teen's backpacks.

With hammers, pry bars, gloves and masks... we were ready. Over the years, a different carpet had been added to each room, giving it an eclectic mix. Much of the carpet pad was so old that it just fell apart. Based on the large volume of traffic and condition of the carpet, it appeared to be 15+ years old. We were thrilled to find hardwood flooring underneath that was in pretty good condition.

The following week, donations for area rugs, 2 new sofas and miscellaneous items were received to help provide warmth in the transformed spaces.

Above is a group photo of the carpet removal team and below are a few action shots from everyone hard at work. As you can see, the men handled the majority of the "muscle" part and us women were the staple removers and clean up crew. We were tired (well exhausted, really) and dirty... but another day that resulted in a HUGE difference for the H.O.M.E. Youth Resource Center and the at-risk teens it services!

Article submitted by Lisa Sherman with Interior Aura. Copyright 2009.

At the end of 2008, the members of Mid Valley Professional Stagers (MVPS) decided to take on a community service project. There were many worthy organizations to choose from, but in the end the H.O.M.E. Youth Resource Center was selected. H.O.M.E. is a day shelter and outreach center for at-risk teens. The shelter provides assistance with homework, meals, a place to wash clothing, obtain needed clothing as well as serves as a refuge and safe haven.

Prior to the project starting, there were several meetings to discuss how the staff and teens utilized each of the spaces as well as how we could help them improve the day shelter. The combined goal was to improve function and maximize the home's potential to best serve the teens.

PHASE 1: A volunteer crew of Salem Area Professional Organizers (SAPO) as well as a couple of the MVPS members gathered on Saturday, January 24th to do the initial purge, decluttering and organize mission. There were nearly a dozen in attendance but we accomplished the work of 20! Items were sorted into keep, donate and toss piles. All donations were provided to another Salem area non-profit organization. The day was extremely productive and we all enjoyed our time spent together while making a difference!

Thank you to all of the Salem Area Professional Organizers who graciously donated their time - we greatly appreciate you!!

A report on phase 2 is forthcoming... stay tuned!!

This article submitted by Lisa Sherman of Interior Aura. Copyright 2009.

It was hot, really hot this weekend.

Our summers in the valley are normally quite moderate, but we seem to get one week every July that hits the 90's and 100's. This past weekend was no exception.

My kids wanted to go to the Riverfront Park here in Salem. When we first moved to Salem from Portland about 10 years ago, Riverfront Park was a fairly new park. It was one of many projects slated to reinvigorate the downtown area, and it really is a fantastic addition.

The park has a great play structure...well actually two. One for larger kids and one for smaller kids. They are right next to each other so parents with both sizes can easily watch their children.

A nice flat sidewalk is perfect for kids who want to learn to ride their bikes or roller blade, joggers out for some exercise, and pet lovers walking their dogs. The trees are still young so shade is somewhat lacking at the park, but give them 10 years and there will be many shady spots.

The park is also home to an outdoor amphitheater, and there is a summer concert series at the park. Riverfront park is host to many events including the upcoming Bite of Salem.

There are two main features of the park that never cease to amaze me. Right next to the park is an old dilapidated Boise Cascade paper mill. 13 acres of prime land that was recently bought by developers with fantastic plans for the area. (Thank you investors/developers!)

When we first moved to Salem there was an old "Acid Ball" in the park. The acid ball held acid for the paper mill and it was this large ugly rusty thing in the middle of the park. Thankfully there are those people in the world significantly more artistic than me, and an artist was hired. The end result is truly amazing.

The other artistic feat of the Riverfront Park is the Carousel. All of the horses in the carousel were handcrafted by volunteers. Every time my kids ride the carousel, I can't help but be in awe of the craftsman that helped with this project. The horses are truly stunning. My artistic skills top out with stick people, so I am always in awe of true artists.

Riverfront Park is one of the many parks that the City of Salem has to offer residents. If you are coming for a visit or looking to move here, come and check it out. And yes...adults can ride the carousel as well (and they do).

Horse drawn carriages clip-clopped, streetcars clanged, long skirts rustled.

Like many people, I find the history of people and places interesting. As much as humanity grows and changes, we also stay the same. While we have gone from horse drawn carts to rockets, humanity still experiences joy and sorrow that defines us as human.

As you walk through downtown Salem and see the heavy oak doors, decorative mouldings, and arched windows, you get a small glimpse of the life of Salemites during a time gone by. You can't help but wonder about the lives of the people who visited these buildings during their lifetimes: a farmer trading his wheat for cloth, a banker lending a dime for some seed, or a blacksmith drinking some beer at the end of the day.

Salem was not actively settled until 1834, when the Methodist Mission made it's way across the country here. It wasn't until the late 1800's that most of Salem's downtown architecture was built. With the river nearby, trapping was good and it helped to start a business economy here in Salem. It seems a bank opened on every street, local shops were thriving, and of course the brewery had a prime location in the downtown area.

Bounded by Ferry, High, Chemeketa, and Front streets, Salem's Downtown Historic District had its fair share of architectural variety, unfortunately some of it lost to fire and floods along the way. Due to its proximity to the Willamette River for trading, Salem's downtown has had a few significant floods in its lifetime. While we have lost a small piece of the past as a result, it has given us a chance to invigorate the area for the future.

Over time downtown Salem has gone into disrepair due to some difficult economic times. The designation on the National Historic Register in 2001 was a needed boost to revitalize this downtown area. Many businesses are using grant funds to restore store fronts and give luster to the original architecture of the time. While not all projects are in the actual historic district itself, Salem currently has 18 revitalization projects happening in the downtown area. With some new modern architecture is being built, it will leave future generations a sense of our time. Modern buildings such as the Convention Center will be mixed with older architecture creating a sense of timelessness for residents to enjoy.

Our local Downtown Historic District, past and present.

For more information on the Revitalization Projects visit the City of Salem's web site. If you are interested in learning more about the tax incentives being offered for this district that information is also offered on the city's web site.

(c) Copyright, 2008. Melina Tomson, All Rights Reserved. DO NOT COPY this without express written permission from the author.