Team of Experts Coming to Salem to Study Boise Property

As part of this study, ULI is also exploring options for relocating Boise's existing paper converting operation currently on that property

This 1975 picture is an aerial view looking west toward Boise Cascade & the Willamette Slough & river in the distance. Trade Street is seen on the right. Photo Courtesy: Salem Public Library (Salem City Hall collection)

(SALEM) - The City of Salem, the Strategic Economic Development Corp., and Boise have invited the Urban Land Institute to Salem to consider the redevelopment of Boise's downtown Salem property.

ULI has assembled a volunteer Advisory Services Panel from their membership to visit Salem June 26 through June 30, 2006 to evaluate and make recommendations on the potential reuse of Boise's 310.4 acres on Minto-Brown Island and their 12.87 acre downtown site and buildings.

According to Salem Mayor Janet Taylor "the thrust of the advisory service panel effort is to generate a road map to retain the valuable Boise jobs and to put the existing Boise properties to a higher and better use benefiting the greater Salem area."

The ULI study is co-sponsored by the City of Salem, Boise and SEDCOR.

The cost of the ULI Panel study is $115,000, and is being funded in part by a grant of Oregon State Lottery funds through the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Development Partnership.

The public is invited to attend a reception which will kick off the ULI's five day Panel visit, on Monday June 26th, from 4:30 to 6:30 PM at the Grand Ballroom, 187 High St. NE, and the panel presentation of their recommendations on Friday, June 30th at 8:30 AM in the Santiam Room of the Salem Conference Center, 200 Commercial St. SE.

Comments and questions regarding this exciting opportunity may be e-mailed to:

ulipanel@cityofsalem.net

The ULI is a non-profit research and education organization based in Washington, D.C. that promotes responsible leadership in the use of land in order to enhance the total environment. Established in 1936, the Institute today has more than 30,000 members and associates from 80 countries, representing the entire spectrum of the land use and development. Professionals represented include developers, builders, property owners, investors, builders, architects, public officials, planners, real estate brokers, appraisers, attorneys, engineers, financiers, academics, students and librarians. ULI relies heavily on the experience of its members. ULI has long been recognized as one of America's most respected and widely quoted sources of objective information on urban planning, growth and development.