Salem Historic Preservation Plan Update

Categories:

Historic Preservation Plan

Beginning in June of 2019, the City's Historic Landmarks Commission and staff, assisted by a consultant team, worked with the community to assess Salem's Historic Preservation program and identify and evaluate program successes and needs. Throughout the remainder of 2019 and through February of 2020, extensive public outreach was conducted, including two online surveys, an interactive map survey, two public open houses and three meetings of a Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC).

The updated 2020-2030 Historic Preservation Plan recommends six goals with 57 actions related to improving public outreach and community education; streamlining historic code; increasing financial support; protecting the cultural landscapes and archaeological resources; encouraging sustainability; and surveying historic resources.

We are also proposing to adopt associated historic code amendments in order to improve and streamline the historic design review standards and processes and to move the historic adaptive reuse provisions into their own chapter.

Potential historic locations

Is there a property, neighborhood, or special place you'd like to see designated as a historic resource? Check out this link or click on the map image below (you can sign in as a guest or create an account) and tell us your suggestions.

The City of Salem is updating its 2010-2020 Historic Preservation Plan. Historic buildings, sites and objects are reminders of a community's past and components of "cultural identity." Familiar, beautiful landmarks provide an emotional anchor and a sense of orientation to what is around them.

In addition to protecting this beauty, historic preservation is important for four other reasons: economic, environmental, cultural and education. The existing Historic Plan's five goals reflect those reasons:

Code improvements
Public education
Incentives (economic and recognition)
Survey
Heritage tourism

Salem has successfully completed a majority of tasks from the existing plan and has hired a qualified preservation consultant, Painter Preservation, to help the Historic Landmarks Commission with an assessment of the work completed to-date.

The consultant will also help create a needs assessment and updated goals and tasks for the next ten years. The work is grant-funded by Certified Local Government, which promotes local historic preservation, and supported by city staff. Contact us at 503-540-2347 or [email protected].

How can I get involved?

You will have opportunities to participate throughout the project, including:

Historic Landmarks Commission Stakeholder Advisory Committee
Open houses
Online surveys

Agendas and minutes

Document Title	File Size
Draft Historic Preservation Plan Update for July 16, 2020	16989 KB
Historic Preservation Plan Update SAC Meeting for April 29, 2020	196 KB
Stakeholder Advisory Committee - Historic Preservation Plan Update for January 29, 2020	192 KB
Revised Stakeholder Advisory Committee Meeting Agenda for January 29, 2020	193 KB
Open House Agenda - Historic Preservation Plan Update for December 04, 2019	239 KB
Draft Stakeholder Advisory Committe Minutes for October 23, 2019	5015 KB
Historic Preservation Plan Update Stakeholder Advisory Committe Meeting Packet for October 23, 2019	204 KB
Historic Preservation Plan Update Stakeholder Advisory Committee Agenda for October 23, 2019	5298 KB

Contact us

Zachery CardosoAdministrative Analyst ICommunity Development Department

Email: [email protected]

Phone:

503-540-2304

Black and white image of the Herbert Hoover House.

Herbert Hoover House, Salem, home to the 31st president of the United States (1929-33), was located on the intersection of Highland and Hazel avenues. Hoover lived from 1874-1954.

Ben Maxwell photo

Phase 1: Define the need (summer-fall 2019)

Establish a Historic Landmarks Commission Stakeholder Advisory Committee. Members will be representatives of the Commission and other stakeholders, who will oversee work of the staff and consultant.
Survey the community and host one open house to evaluate and assess Salem's Historic Preservation Program and the adopted goals, including:
1. Historic Preservation Code and design review process
2. Outreach and education
3. Incentives
4. Survey and designation
5. Heritage tourism

Phase 2: Develop the plan (winter 2019-2020)

The Consultant will work with staff and the Stakeholder Advisory Committee to develop alternative solutions and recommendations for issues identified with the Needs Assessment
Survey the community and host one open house to present alternatives and recommendations for updates to the Preservation Plan.

Phase 3: Prepare for action (spring 2020)

The Consultant will work with staff and the Stakeholder Advisory Committee to develop action items, implementation steps and timelines for the Historic Preservation Plan Update.
The Draft Historic Preservation Plan Update will be presented to the Historic Landmarks Commission at a regularly scheduled public meeting.

Phase 4: City adoption (June 2020)

The consultant and staff will finalize the updated Historic Preservation Plan, which will be reviewed and adopted by the Salem City Council as part of Salem's Comprehensive Plan.

Resources

Charting the Right Course for Your Local Preservation Program

Tips on Running a Successful Historic Preservation Program, Colorado Municipal League

The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Preservation Planning

APA Policy Guide on Historical and Cultural Resources

Preparing a Historic Preservation Plan

How Planners Plan for Historic Preservation

Human-Centered Built Environment Heritage Preservation

Black and white image of the Salem Hat Parade.

Salem Fourth of July parade, 1902. The photo was probably taken on State Street, near the corner of Commercial Street. The hat may represent a manufacturer.