Public land is a tool — let's actually use it.
The City of Salem, Marion County, the State of Oregon, and the Federal government all own land right here in Salem. Right now, a lot of it just sits there. This plan uses that land as leverage — so developers build more units, afford more affordable ones, and the city doesn't lose a dime of tax revenue.
Four goals. One plan.
Every piece of this proposal works toward the same four things at once. It's not one goal OR another — it's all four, together.
Stimulate Housing Production
More homes getting built means fewer people competing for the same units — and prices don't keep climbing out of reach.
Boost Construction Activity
Every new project means construction jobs, supplier contracts, and money circulating in the local economy.
Grow Salem's Tax Base
New developments become taxable property. More tax revenue means better roads, parks, and city services — for everyone.
More Affordable Units Per Project
This is the heart of the plan. Every mixed-income development includes 10 to 15 percent more affordable units than it otherwise would — without creating isolated, standalone affordable housing projects. Affordable homes woven right into regular neighborhoods.
More affordable homes. No ghettoes.
A lot of affordable housing plans just build one big affordable-only complex and call it done. That approach often ends up feeling isolated — and it doesn't actually produce that many units. This plan does it differently.
Public land is offered to developers as part of a deal — in exchange for building 10–15% more affordable units inside the same building. The affordable homes sit next door to market-rate ones. Same building. Same street. Same neighborhood.
- ✓ Affordable homes blend into regular neighborhoods
- ✓ More units produced overall
- ✓ No isolated "affordable housing projects"
- ✓ Market-rate and affordable residents share amenities
Build one big affordable-only project and check the box. This creates concentrated poverty, fewer overall units, and doesn't generate the tax revenue or community investment that mixed-income developments do.
- ✗ Isolates lower-income residents
- ✗ Fewer total units produced
- ✗ Tax abatements reduce city revenue
- ✗ Misses the broader economic opportunity
Simple idea. Smart execution.
Think of it like a trade: the city and other public agencies bring land to the table. Developers bring their skills and capital. The community gets more homes — including more affordable ones — and Salem's finances get stronger.
Public agencies identify their underused land
The City of Salem (including Block 45 and Block 50), Marion County, the State of Oregon, and Federal agencies all own parcels in Salem that aren't being fully used. These become the starting point.
Land goes into deals — not giveaways
Instead of selling land for $1 or leaving it empty, it's structured into development agreements. Developers get access to the land as part of a competitive deal process. The city doesn't just hand it over — it trades leverage for community benefit.
Developers build more — including more affordable
Because the land costs are reduced through the deal structure, developers can afford to build 10–15% more affordable units than they otherwise could. These units are mixed in — not separated. Everyone shares the same building.
Salem keeps its System Development Charges and tax revenue
System Development Charges — worth roughly $2 million — stay intact. The city doesn't lose tax revenue through long abatements. The development pays its fair share, and Salem's finances improve, not suffer.
The whole community benefits
More homes means more people housed. More construction means more jobs. More taxable property means better city services. And every project delivers more affordable units than it would without the plan.
Why System Development Charges matter
System Development Charges (SDCs) are one-time fees developers pay when they build — for water, sewer, roads, and parks. They can add up to roughly $2 million per major project. Waiving those fees to attract development means the rest of Salem's taxpayers foot that bill instead. This plan keeps SDCs in place.
Every level of government has a role to play.
This isn't just a city plan — it's a coordinated strategy across city, county, state, and federal land. All of it can be brought to the table, and all of it multiplies the impact.
Block 45 & Block 50 — specifically named
Two key downtown parcels the city already owns. These are prime spots for mixed-income development right in the heart of Salem.
- Block 45 — in the plan by name
- Block 50 — in the plan by name
- Other city parcels across Salem
- Nearest to city permitting and services
County-Owned Properties
Marion County holds land in and around Salem that can be coordinated with city development goals. County involvement expands the pool of available sites.
- Coordinate with county planning
- Expand geographic reach of the plan
- County land near transit and services
State Land Near Downtown
Oregon state government owns significant properties in Salem — the state capital. Many of these parcels sit close to jobs, transit, and amenities.
- High-value downtown adjacent sites
- Connect housing to state employment centers
- Coordinate through ODOT, DSL, and agencies
Federal Parcels & Surplus Property
The federal government owns land and surplus properties in Salem. Federal land can be transferred or leased for affordable housing under specific federal programs.
- Surplus property programs for housing
- Federal-local partnership opportunities
- Access federal housing incentives
When the city, county, state, and federal government coordinate their land assets together, the total leverage is much larger than any one agency acting alone. Each level of public land adds more sites, more deal-making power, and more affordable units.
What this plan does NOT do.
Some approaches sound good on paper but actually cost the community money, produce fewer homes, or miss the bigger opportunity. Here's what we're explicitly avoiding — and why.
- ✓Using land as leverage in competitive development deals
- ✓Keeping System Development Charges (~$2M value) intact
- ✓Maintaining Salem's tax revenue from new development
- ✓Increasing affordable units inside market-rate projects
- ✓Building housing that pays its fair share back to the city
- ✓Coordinating all four levels of public land ownership
- ✓Delivering real, measurable community benefit
- ✗Giving away public land for $1 — that's a giveaway, not a deal
- ✗Waiving or losing System Development Charges (~$2M)
- ✗Losing tax revenue through long tax abatements
- ✗Simply mandating 15% affordable + a 10-year tax abatement as a trade-off
- ✗Building standalone affordable housing projects that isolate residents
- ✗Policies that only fill the city's coffers without real community benefit
- ✗Letting public land sit underutilized while Salem's housing crisis grows
The "$1 land deal" trap
When cities sell land for $1 to attract development, they often also waive System Development Charges and offer tax abatements. The math rarely adds up for the community. This plan makes sure every deal strengthens Salem's financial position — not weakens it.
The "just mandate 15% affordable + abatement" trap
Requiring 15% affordable units while giving a 10-year tax abatement sounds balanced — but it doesn't push developers to do more than the minimum, and the city loses years of tax revenue. This plan pushes 10–15% beyond that minimum without sacrificing revenue.
This works for moderates and progressives alike.
Good housing policy shouldn't be left vs. right. This proposal is designed to appeal across the political spectrum — because it delivers real results that everyone can point to.
For moderates & fiscal conservatives
- →Grows the tax base with new taxable property
- →Keeps SDCs — city doesn't give money away
- →Stimulates construction and private investment
- →Uses market mechanisms, not just mandates
For progressives & housing advocates
- →10–15% more affordable units per project
- →Affordable homes in mixed-income neighborhoods
- →More total housing supply, faster
- →Real community benefit, not just checkboxes
More homes. More affordable ones. Salem keeps the money.
Public land is a public asset. Used strategically, it can make every new development deliver more for the people of Salem — without costing the city a dime in lost revenue.
Salem deserves a housing plan that actually works.
This is Manny Martinez's proposal. It's practical, honest, and designed for the long-term health of our community — not just a quick political win.