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Part of the property Boise Cascade executives left behind when they closed their Salem paper mill in 2007 may be the site of a 120-unit, $25-million apartment complex.

Mountain West Investment Corp. bought the 13-acre site from the wood products company in 2007 and obtained an open demolition permit from the city of Salem in July 2011.

Mark Shipman, a Salem attorney who represents the developers, said the apartments would not be located where buildings are still being demolished. They would be located on what used to be a parking area.

“This is a site that was previously used for trucks,” he said. “It already has an asphalt base. There is no demolition to speak of. The property is physically separated from the rest of the plant by Pringle Creek and the railroad tracks.”

Original plans for the paper mill site, located on the south edge of downtown Salem off Commercial Street, called for a 107-unit apartment complex with 20,000 square feet of retail space called Pringle Square. Shipman said this is a completely different project.

“We’re actually calling this the Residences at Riverfront Park,” he said.

The new proposal would cover approximately four acres near Salem Riverfront Park, its carousel and giant tiled “Earth Ball” globe.

Shipman said Mountain West developers hope to have building permits issued by March or April 2012 with construction lasting about a year. The project should create some 125 jobs, he added.

The complex would include one-, two- and three-bedroom units as well as studio apartments, said Shipman. Plans also call for a 3,200-square-foot community center for tenants.

Before the project can proceed, city officials require the developers perform a traffic study. The Salem City Council will also have to vote on whether to allow access through the park.