Thank you, BLOCK 50 submittals closed August 31, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. PST.

Salem is Oregon’s second largest city 179,605 (2022) and the State’s capital. Located in the heart of the Willamette Valley, Salem is a diverse community with well-established neighborhoods, a family-friendly ambiance, and a small town feel.

Our historic downtown offers easy access to the Willamette riverfront, fabulous foods from local kitchens, craft brewery and winery experiences, and a variety of cultural opportunities.

Salem is in the midst of sustained, steady growth. We invest in preservation of our historic buildings, affordable housing, residential and commercial development, local businesses, and industries. 

Salem is nestled between the Oregon coast and world class outdoor adventures in the Cascade range. Join the excitement building in Salem by checking out our community profile and experiencing all that the Willamette Valley has to offer.

In 2020, the City of Salem began acquiring ABC Music, Saffron Building Supply, and Union Gospel Mission with the intention of using the properties to help revitalize the downtown core. The city demolished all of the buildings and fenced off the site in the winter of 2022.

The vision for BLOCK 50 is housing or offices with a mix of active services on the ground floor, including restaurants, coffee shops, brew pubs, a grocery store or other retail.

• Serve as a catalyst and model for the revitalization and redevelopment of key formerly underutilized sites in downtown

• Serve as a model of mixed-use, mixed income housing development in downtown Salem that takes into consideration its proximity to Downtown Historic District, Riverfront Park and Capitol

• Support bicycle and pedestrian connections

• Benefit local businesses, residents and local economy

• Provide new mixed-income housing development which includes a minimum of 20% of the units be affordable at an average of 80% Median Family Income

• Incorporate green building practices

• Provide permanent job opportunities

• Support MBE, WBE and local businesses

• Incorporate public open space

The undeveloped properties are bounded by Front Street (west), Commercial Street (east), Chemeketa Street (south) and ODOT access road to the (north).

The site is strategically located to recreational and cultural activities in downtown, including Riverfront Park situated on the Willamette River, Peter Courtney Bridge, Historic Railroad Bridge, Elsinore Theater and Willamette University. It represents one of the largest remaining undeveloped properties in the central business district with two contiguous lots and a third directly across an alley. It is a premier development opportunity in downtown.

For additional information on BLOCK 50, contact Sheri Wahrgren, Assistant Urban Development Director, at swahrgren@cityofsalem.net  or 503-540-2495.