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]]> The proposals reviewed in this document were generated as a result of
collaboration between the City of Salem and the University of Oregon
Sustainable Cities Initiative. Fifty-one students in a Planning, Public Policy, and
Management course entitled “Bicycle Transportation”, taught by Professor Marc
Schlossberg, reviewed and examined critical elements of an urban bikeway
system and proposed projects that would encourage increased bicycle ridership.

]]> The intent of this study and design work is to respond to the needs and distinct
characteristics of the South of Mission area in the City of Salem, Oregon. Our
Mission Statement is to encourage economic development through the creation
and revitalization of vibrant communities. This report describes our careful
examination of the City of Salem, followed by planning and design proposals
that explore the vast opportunities for development in the South of Mission area.

]]> The following report documents the ideas, proposals, and methodologies
produced by the Sustainable City Year (SCY) Downtown Parks Connectivity
project for the City of Salem. The Downtown Parks Connectivity project
members included students in the University of Oregon’s department of
Planning, Public Policy and Management enrolled in the academic course
PPPM 436/536: Social Planning with Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Project members were given the task of connecting Salem’s core area parks
by proposing a system of urban pedestrian trails and bicycle routes. The City
of Salem hopes to improve pedestrian and bicycle accessibility to enhance the
recreational potential of the parks system and the enjoyment of park patrons.
Research was primarily conducted using GIS, however this comprehensive
report puts an emphasis on ideas for improving transportation connectivity
and connecting Salem’s downtown communities rather than the technical GIS
methodologies. Note that GIS is still addressed in the final sections of the report
and in the appendices, but this is due to the innovative nature of select projects
that require a technical understanding of GIS.
Each section is divided into brief summaries of individual projects. Policy
and planning recommendations are included on a case-by-case basis. The
conclusion section includes an overall summary of recommendations generated
by these reports.

]]> The City of Salem asked the Minto-Brown Island Park research and design
studio, led by University of Oregon Landscape Architecture Professor Deni
Ruggeri, to provide a new interpretive trail plan for Minto-Brown Island Park
located in Salem, Oregon. The primary considerations, as given by the City of
Salem, for the development of this interpretive trail plan were to investigate new
trails and connections that would facilitate improved way-finding within the park,
provide interpretive opportunities and increased access to the Natural Resource
and Conservation Service (NRCS) restoration areas and the Willamette River,
and increase pedestrian and bicycle connectivity to downtown Salem via a
future bridge and easement linking the northern perimeter of Minto-Brown Island
Park to Riverfront Park.
In order to develop a proposal for a new interpretive trail plan, this studio
launched an intensive investigation to understand the natural and cultural fabric
that defines Minto-Brown Island Park at present, and the potential to enhance
the value of the park for Salem’s present and future residents. This investigation
revealed a multitude of opportunities to engage the community of Salem in a
variety of park experiences, both new and traditional, that would help generate
support for, and increase awareness of, the value of this park to the city. These
exciting investigations led to the decision to develop and propose a new master
plan for Minto-Brown Island Park in conjunction with the development of the
interpretive trail plan.

]]> The city collaborated with students from the University of Oregon’s Strategic
Communication program to develop a communication plan to address a variety
of concerns. The city specifically wanted students to create a plan to help
citizens acknowledge the value of Minto-Brown Island Park, and by extension
other city-operated parks; to promote personal responsibility by park visitors;
to reduce litter in the park; and to discourage dog owners from allowing their
pets to run off leash in on-leash areas. Students were asked to produce a
multiplatform media plan with suggested messaging.
The communication plan was designed to augment a plan developed by
students from the University of Oregon’s Landscape Architecture department to
improve the physical, natural, and human amenities at the park.

]]> Students developed 24 design ideas for the new Salem Police Station. While
there were a variety of approaches to developing the new station, every design
addressed issues involving the Civic Center site and the police program,
including connectivity within the site and to Salem as a whole; creating a “front
door” for the site; developing community/public space; improving wayfinding
throughout the site; exploring viable sustainability strategies; and ensuring
adequate parking for the public, city employees, and police.

]]> In collaboration with Peter Keyes’s 2011 Advanced Architectural Design Studio
at the University of Oregon and the Sustainable Cities Initiative, the City of
Salem and the Salem Housing Authority (SHA) sought to re-imagine the future
of public housing so that it would dignify those who inhabit it and do so in a more
economically, environmentally, and ecologically sustainable manner than is
currently the norm.Following their research and analysis, the students generated room, unit, and
building prototypes based on an understanding of their relationship to different
local contexts. The students subsequently developed infill and redevelopment
proposals for three multi-family properties currently owned by the SHA: Orchard
Village, Meadowlark Village, and Glen Creek. The SHA provided students a list
of goals focused on optimizing the use of available resources, including energy,
land, water, and materials. Building on the SHA’s goals, the students sought to
elevate perceptions of what is possible in low-income housing.

]]> During the fall 2010 academic term at the University of Oregon, five groups of
three students in an architecture studio course worked with the City of Salem to
develop five schemes for the redevelopment of the North Downtown Waterfront.
The students investigated existing site conditions and a variety of factors
influencing development of this particular part of Salem. These investigations
led the students to focus on some key issues that would be addressed by the
broad range of the groups’ design schemes, including:
• The Commercial Street barrier, currently blocking access to the Willamette
River, particularly for bicyclists and pedestrians
• A significantly underutilized Mill Creek
• The rail line on Front Street
• The potential for direct connections to other parts of Salem, via bike paths
along waterways, Union Street for east/west connections, or Liberty Street
for downtown accessibility
With these issues in mind, groups began to branch out into their own particular
visions of what the area could become in the future. Each group took an
individual approach and worked toward a unique scheme, but all students
stressed the importance of a few common elements:
• Including special public places within the site
• Encouraging a more bicycle and pedestrian friendly environment
• Moving toward a more sustainable community, including green streets,
bioswales, and ecological preservation of the creek and river habitat
• Creating an overall mixed-use district that would help to form a unique and
inviting community for Salem residents and visitors
This report documents the students’ investigations into current conditions and
possible future scenarios.

]]> During the Fall 2010 and Winter 2011 academic terms at the University of
Oregon, twelve students in an architecture studio course worked with the City
of Salem to develop twelve different architectural programs and designs for the
redevelopment of Salem’s North Downtown Waterfront.Proposals include a Salem river research center, brewpubs, museums,
recreation centers, hotels, and housing. A river research center has the potential
to draw tourism to the area and to provide a home for new and innovative
research. Brewpubs would provide another form of attraction, fitting in to the
current industrial feel of the area. Museums and civic attractions can provide a
complement to the downtown commercial district, and higher-density housing
will help support any potential new businesses. This wide range of project types
displays the great potential of the site as a whole.

]]> Currently, the City of Salem provides approximately 10,500 streetlights for
the safety and well-being of its residents. These streetlights cost the city
roughly 1.5 million dollars per year in combined electricity and maintenance
costs, representing 20 percent of Public Works Department expenditures.
The city uses a combination of ownership and rental options in partnership
with two electric utilities, Portland General Electric (PGE) and Salem Electric
(SE). The shared ownership model has contributed to a system with over 100
combinations of lights and ballasts. The city has identified this streetlight system
as an important opportunity to increase the efficiency of government operations
and the long-term stability of financial resources.
In conjunction with the University of Oregon’s Sustainable City Year program,
the City of Salem commissioned a team of students in a Masters of Public
Administration Capstone course at the University of Oregon to recommend
a more sustainable model for their streetlight operations. The city seeks a
streetlighting system that is financially and politically sustainable in an era of
public/private partnerships, regulatory change, rising energy costs, and unstable
government revenue. At the same time, Salem is considering the environmental
cost and benefits of their municipal infrastructure.The following report examines available mechanisms to improve the
sustainability of Salem’s streetlight operations. The first section defines Salem’s
streetlight operations problems and provides a survey of possible solutions. The
remaining portions of the report provide in-depth analysis of the most suitable
alternatives and recommended actions for the city to achieve more sustainable
streetlight operations.

Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.

Sustainable City Year Program Contact Info
Megan Banks
Sustainable City Year Program Manager
mbanks@uoregon.edu
(541) 346-6395

University Faculty Contact
Colleen Chrisinger
Planning, Public Policy and Management

Local Government / Community Contact
Courtney Knox

Urban Development Senior Project Manager

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