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No proposals submitted for 791 Main RFQ; staff to consider reissue and developer outreach
Summary
City staff reported that no proposals arrived during the RFQ period for the 791 Main redevelopment; staff and the consultant cited market timing and lending conditions and said options include reissuing the RFQ or engaging developers directly.
Tyler, a city staff member, told the committee that the city expected to evaluate submitted qualifications this week but "did not receive, any proposals" by the end of the RFQ period.
"We talked with our consultant, from forum placemaking today and kinda debrief some potential reasons for why that was," Tyler said, and cited a regional trend: a similar solicitation in the Portland metro area received only one proposal for a larger, more attractive site.
Tyler and other staff discussed possible next steps including opening another RFQ, conducting further outreach to potential developers, or adjusting the site's advertised incentives. He and the consultant also emphasized timing and broader economic factors: "the general economic and lending environment right now is really tight with how interest rates are still fairly high," Tyler said, and some interested parties told staff they were otherwise committed.
A resident expert, Tory, said Salem has a committed site with an existing developer but had also seen changes caused by market uncertainty. Committee members asked about specific incentives previously offered during the RFQ process; staff listed several that had been under consideration, including land write-downs, SDC credits, lodging-fact adjustments and participation in programs such as the Vertical Housing Development Zone.
No formal action was taken; staff said they would return with recommendations once they settle on the next steps.
