Since its establishment in 1975, Riverfront-Downtown Urban Renewal Area (URA) funds have been used to attract and retain commercial businesses in the downtown core, preserve historic buildings, and incent new housing development within the Riverfront-Downtown Urban Renewal boundaries.
Riverfront-Downtown Urban Renewal investments play a major role in making downtown Salem livable, using urban renewal as a tool to focus public resources on key projects such as:
- New construction of office building
- New construction of residential rental housing units
- Recently-completed Peter Courtney pedestrian/bicycle bridge
- Installation of bike signals and bike lanes
A strategic action plan unique to the Riverfront-Downtown URA informs implementation of projects, using an integrated approach to revitalization that includes commercial, retail, mixed-use residential, streets and parks, re-development.
Assessed values and key projects were determined when the urban renewal district was first established. Project plans are subject to change at the direction of the Urban Renewal Agency.