Creative vision for Salem City Hall and Riverfront Park expansion

I've told Geoffrey James, a noted Salem architect, that he needs to be cloned. One Geoff can keep on with what the original is doing. The clone should be in charge of urban design for the City of Salem. 

(See my previous post, "Architect Geoffrey James critiques Salem's lack of urban design.")

Last night I was pleased to get an email from Geoff that went to me and many others concerned about development in the downtown riverfront area. More great ideas. 

I really like his "Proposal for the Expansion of City Hall and Riverfront Park." As the City should be doing, but apparently hasn't been, these two projects should be viewed as an integrated whole. 

Well, actually there are three projects, because redevelopment of the old Boise Cascade property east of the railroad tracks also is part of Geoff's vision. (The area west of the tracks would become part of Riverfront Park.)

Here's Geoff's email message.

RIVERFRONT PARK SOUTH EXPANSION connected to SALEM CITY HALL EXPANSION

Community leaders have suggested we meet soon, maybe at the [Salem Library] Anderson Room, and discuss how these can be connected.

A community workshop, or design "charette" similar to what we did at Fairview, is in order.

Please see the following report for some preliminary ideas, to get the discussion started.

Also ... it is now on Facebook, so do join that ... and do "like" the Facebook page.

It is for an online exchange of ideas.

1. Where and when to meet, to get this started

2. Extent of Riverfront Park south expansion

3. How the proposed City Hall addition can be integrated into the solution and provide visitor parking

4. Form a steering committee and organization for this effort

5. Start a fundraising campaign: several people have already said they will donate for park expansion

6. Plan a design "charette" and start developing a community urban design plan for connecting and funding the two projects

Here is a copy of the preliminary planning report:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/171318190/Riverfront-Park-City-Hall-Additions

Here is the Facebook page or website for this:

https://www.facebook.com/SORPS

Here is the 2006 ULI Urban Land Institute plan or report, which is the City's guiding document for this area:

http://www.cityofsalem.net/Departments/UrbanDevelopment/DepartmentProjects/BoiseProject/Documents/salem_uli_report.pdf

Geoffrey James
[email protected]

Comments

[Jim Scheppke]

It seems to me that the first question that needs to be asked about the future of our so-called civic center is this: Do we tear City Hall down or keep it.

There is a strong case to be made for tearing it down. It is the ugliest major building in the city. It will not survive "the big one." It is now too small to house the city offices and the police department (though maybe not as small as some might think. Why spend 65 million (the figure you hear for the City Hall renovation and new police building) and end up having to still look at that horrible concrete heap for decades to come. Boston is considering tearing down it's brutalist City Hall:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2013/09/23/boston-city-hall-should-torn-down/oVs2ywpJg1qHZkmmmZIYIL/story.html

Salem should consider it too.

Jim