Fairview Property On the Verge of Big Changes

About 150 people turned out on Earth Day to celebrate and take in information about investing in this progressive development.

A Pringle Creek developer uses a model of the sustainable community to explain the plan to interested visitors.

(SALEM) - The Fairview Training Center property in South Salem, which existed for nearly a century serving and facilitating people who were mentally and physically disabled, is taking a new direction. Phase one of an environmentally friendly community development is getting underway.

Don Myers is one of the people who is revitalizing one of the city`s most historic sites. `Here on 32 acres, we`re going to build about 20 acres with streets and homes and the rest of the area will be beautiful green infrastructure with Pringle Creek and 80 percent of the trees will be saved, it will be fantastic."

Myers says the Pringle Creek Community will mix early Salem cultural heritage with modern, highly efficient, environmentally sound buildings and natural landscape, `One of the main approaches is respect for the environment; we`re here to protect the trees, protect the creek, and we`re not only here to protect but also to enhance the environment. We want to build a community here for all types of people."

The site is about to become the nation`s premiere example of an ecologically friendly, sustainable living community, and after two decades, these many acres in South Salem, that Salem City Councilor Brad Nanke considers to be the most pristine in the area, will spring back to life with a new mission, `It`s not just south Salem that will benefit, it is the state of Oregon, it is our nation as a whole, and other nations as well, because I don`t think this has even been done on a scale this large, in the 200 to 300 acre range."

About 150 people turned out on Earth Day to celebrate and take in information about property that will be placed for sale, people from all ages and all walks of life attended and asked a number of questions about investing in this progressive development. Don Myers says the area will appeal to people who like the greener side of Oregon, `It`ll be people who want to live close to nature and really enjoy interaction within their community and with the birds and the trees and the land that we have here."

The Pringle Creek community will begin taking shape soon. They plan to begin building streets in May, and selling lots in July, while roads are expected to be in by October.

Watch the STREAMING VIDEO REPORT by Tim King below:

HEAR THIS STORY AND MORE SALEM-AREA NEWS FROM SALEM-NEWS.COM ON NEWSRADIO 1190 KEX. Video is no longer available online Order a copy of this story! A high quality DVD version of this story is available for $25 + $5 s&h

Send check or money order to:
Salem-News.com, P.O. Box 5238, Salem, OR 97304
For information e-mail:bonnie@salem-news.com