Riverfront-Downtown Urban Renewal Area
| Date |
|
Milestone |
March
2005 |
|
|
|
| |
Grand
Opening |
July
2003 |
|
|
|
| |
Agency picks
Rushforth |
Jan
2003 |
|
|
| |
Agency purchases
half block |
Fall
2002 |
|
|
| |
Design change,
budget amended |
May
2002 |
|
|
| |
Prelim designs:
LMN Architects |
Fall
2001 |
|
|
| |
MOU with VIP's Inc |
Spring
2001 |
|
|
| |
Agency directs staff
to negotiate with VIP's |
Fall
2000 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Feasibility study,
two possible sites:
1) at UnionGospel
Mission site or
2) at old Ramada
Inn site |
|
|
|
| |
RFP for Conference
Center feasibility |
|
|
|
The Salem Conference Center, a Class A community conference center, came about as a result of a public / private joint venture between the Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Salem and VIP’S Industries - who built a Class A hotel on the other half of the block.
A market analysis completed for the project found that a conference center built near a hotel could generate at least 15% more regional events with 30% more attendee days than a stand-alone conference center.
The Urban Renewal Agency chose to build a conference center to help revitalize the downtown core area and create more jobs. Ground breaking for the conference center and the hotel took place in July 2003.
The Salem Conference Center opened in March 2005 and was designed and constructed with the intent of conforming to standards of LEED certification. The 29,400 square foot facility can be configured for up to 14 rooms for convention, theater, banquet space, trade show space, or classroom activity.
The Salem Conference Center, centrally located between Portland and Eugene, is an ideal venue for meetings, events and conventions.
The Center features: Catering and banquet services, Flexible meeting rooms, State of the art technology, On-site covered parking, Located in downtown Salem, Riverfront Park and shopping nearby
Links
Official site for the Salem Conference Center, including booking information.
Staff Contacts
Sheri Wahrgren - 503.588.6178