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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Downtown Salem will nix free street parking later this summer
PORTLAND, Ore. () — Later this summer, Oregon's capital is dialing back on free parking. As of July 10, street parking will no longer be free in Salem's downtown district. Officials plan to begin installing pay stations, which will charge drivers $1.50 per hour, next month. I-5 bridge replacement program unveils plan to minimize impact on historic sites The change is part of officials' efforts to boost revenue for the city and increase the number of available spaces — similar to r. 'Metered parking allows downtown Salem to generate revenue that can be used to provide important city services,' the City of Salem . 'It also helps keep parking available for visitors to downtown businesses. Paid parking reduces how long people can park in an on-street parking space, thus freeing up the space more frequently for new customers.' Officials additionally claimed the changes will benefit Salem's Climate Action Plan by reducing the traffic congestion that comes with searching for a parking spot. The current 3-hour free parking will be replaced with metered spots that allow drivers to pay for up to 12 hours at a time. The new pay stations will ask users for their license plate numbers, which enforcement officers will later use to confirm the allotted time hasn't expired. Drivers can also download the yet-to-come Beep Beep Salem app to pay online. The current free, on-street spaces are covered by local businesses that pay a Downtown Parking Tax. Despite the upcoming changes, the tax is expected to stay in place for at least a year, according to Interim City Manager Krishna Namburi. Suspect still at large after April downtown Portland assault 'We need to have about a year of crossover to fund operations,' Namburi told officials during Tuesday's Salem City Council meeting. 'When you put the parking meters into play, you're not going to be having a year's worth of operational revenue in July when they're deployed, which is what the parking tax provides.' She said officials could likely remove the parking tax at a later date. The downtown parking structures owned by the City of Salem will remain free to the public. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Salem City Council eyes purchase of vacant land for affordable housing
The Salem City Council will vote on ratifying a sale agreement to purchase property on Market Street NE with plans to turn the vacant land into affordable housing. The property at 2445 Market St. NE was once a neighborhood blight. The abandoned house was even nominated for a story on "Salem's worst eyesore properties." In 2016, a reader wrote to the Statesman Journal detailing how the house had deteriorated over the course of 10 years after it caught fire. At the time, nine complaints had been lodged against the house. It was plastered with notices and remained on the city's list of derelict buildings for more than a year. Eventually, the property was purchased by Scymanky Rentals in 2023 for $650,000 and the crumbling house was demolished the following year. City officials are now seeking to purchase the property and build affordable housing using federal funds. The contract for the .94-acre patch of land between Evergreen Avenue and 23rd Street in north Salem is listed at $750,000. In a report to the council, city staff said the Urban Development Department seeks to acquire the property to facilitate the construction of affordable housing units to serve low-income individuals and families in need of stable and accessible living conditions. "The acquisition and subsequent development by Salem Housing Authority aligns with the City's broader housing goals, which include expanding affordable housing options, addressing housing shortages, and promoting equitable community growth," staff said. Securing the site would allow the city to leverage federal Community Development Block Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. A vote approving the employment agreement for Interim City Manager Krishna Namburi. A vote on authorizing the interim city manager to apply for the Oregon Health Authority's Drinking Water Source Protection Fund Grant for $50,000 to address post-wildfire water concerns in the North Santiam watershed. A vote on authorizing the interim city manager to apply for federal funding to design and construct the Geren Island Water Treatment Facility Bridge Replacement project. An information report on Chemeketa Community College's request to support their $140-million building and renovation bond. A proclamation recognizing March as Women's History Month. A proclamation recognizing April as Arbor Month. The meeting is at 6 p.m. It will be held in person in the City Council Chambers at the Salem Civic Center, 555 Liberty St. SE, and can be watched on Comcast Cable CCTV Channel 21 or on the Salem YouTube channel in English/American Sign Language and Spanish. Those wishing to comment in person can sign up on the rosters at the chamber entrance before the start of the meeting. Written public comments on agenda items can be emailed by 5 p.m. Monday to cityrecorder@ Or citizens can preregister between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday at to speak during the meeting via Zoom. For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@ call 503-910-6616 or follow on X at @wmwoodworth This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem City Council considers land purchase for affordable housing
