East Lancaster Neighborhood Association

In the November 2008 the voters approve a Street Bond that included two projects in the East Lancaster area.

1) The construction of a new connection between Market Street and Swegle Road. The design will include two traffic lanes and a center turn lane with curbs, sidewalks and bikes lanes on both sides. The realignment of the streets would provide for the cul de sac of the existing street at the two intersections of Market in front of Swegle School and Swegle Road at the current intersection with 45th  Avenue. The new intersection will include a traffic light. The project extends from Lancaster to Royalty Drive.

A public meeting to present the final plans is set for June 7th at the ELNA Annual meeting at 7:00 p.m. in the dinning hall of The Springs Retirement Apartments (1850 45th Ave NE). Enter by the portico of the main building.

In  2010 a consultant firm was hired by the City to design the realignment. This design has been reviewed by the neighbors in serveral meetings, and now the design is almost complete so no further changes will be made. 

All of the properties that will need to be acquired for the project are almost complete, Several exisiting homes will be removed in the spring of 2012.

Construction is expected to take place during the summers of 2012 and 2013.

Beginning in January of 2013 you will begin to see trees being removed along Market Street to make way for the new street improvments. Utilites will be relocated shortly after the trees are down. Actual construction of the travel lanes will begin as soon as school is out for the summer and will continue until the fall when school begins again. The section from Clay Street to 45th will be completed the first summer and the next summer the section from 45 to Royalty will be constructed.

Two new streets will be created with the cul de sac of the existing streets. The short section oin front of Swegle School will be named by the school students and staff. The section on the short section of Swegle will need to be renamed. The Neighborhood Associaiton is taking suggestions. Contact Susann Kaltwasser with your suggestions.

Contact either ELNA chairperson,  Susann Kaltwasser or Gary Myzak of the City of Salem Public Works (503-588-6211) for more information. (updated 12/20/2012)

2) The addition of new traffic lanes at Market and Lancaster with driveway closures and median strips.

This project is complete.

For More information contact the Gary Myzak of Salem Public Work at 503-588-6211 or the ELNA chairperson, Susann Kaltwasser at 503-363-3998.

The following projects have been approved for the ELNA area:

FOREVER FOSTER HOME Salem Christian Center has partitioned 1/2 acre of land on the east side of their property and donated it to Catholic Community Services for the construction of a "Forever Home" which is a foster home facility that will provide a home for up to 6 children. They successfully petitioned the City to reduce the density requirements so that they only need to construct 2 houses where 6 would have been required. In addition to the Forever Home they will also construct a "Residential Home" that will be used as a temporary respite for staff who work in the five Forever Homes. The Forever Home was dedicated in the spring of 2011 and is currently the home of several boys.

You can contact ELNA land use chairperson, Susann Kaltwasser at 503-363-3998.

ANNEXATIONS! During the election of 2011 the old Pictsweet mushroom property located on Cordon Road between Auburn Road and State Street was annexed into the City of Salem. No development plans are currently being proposed beyond the preliminary plans included in the voting pamphlet. The original plans call for multifamily development, Commercial development, single family development and a city park.

In November 2012 two additional private properties along Auburn Road and adjacent to the Pictsweet property were annexted into the City of Salem. These properties are currently developed as single family residences. They were annexed in order to obtain City services.

Neighborhood Watch is a way for citizens to get to know each other while looking out for one another. Sponsored by the Salem Police Department the Neighborhood Watch program coordinator can help you to organize your neighbors, receive free training on how to protect your home and report a crime.  Contact City of Salem Crime Prevention at 503-588-6175