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The owner of a historic, 90-plus-year-old Salem building can proceed with plans to demolish it.

The Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals on Dec. 17 issued a final order and opinion upholding the Salem City Council‘s decision to allow executives at Salem Health, the parent company of Salem Hospital, to demolish Howard Hall 鈥� formerly a boys dormitory when the Oregon School for the Blind operated at 700 Church St. S.E.

Salem Health in 2010 purchased the site for $6 million with plans to raze the building and redevelop the land. Those plans called for creation of a garden commemorating Howard Hall, an adaptive playground (open to the public) for children with physical disabilities and a 鈥渢herapy loop鈥� featuring various materials and incorporating multiple terrain features for hospital patients learning to walk again.

The eight-acre former school site in the 1980s was designated as a historic area by the Salem Historic Landmarks Commission; however, it is not listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1990, Howard Hall specifically was given a protected historic designation by the commission, according to hospital spokeswoman Sherryll Hoar.

In April 2014, Salem Health applied to the city for a historic demolition review. The commission denied the application, but the Salem City Council initiated a review of the decision. On Aug. 11, 2014, the council reversed the commission’s denial, approving the application for demolition. Nine citizens then took the issue before LUBA, which upheld the council’s decision.

鈥淭he city has very specific rules about when a historic building can be demolished,鈥� Hoar said. 鈥淲e had to prove that what will replace the demolished building will be of more value to the community than what was there.鈥�

The Salem City Council concluded that the site’s cultural significance and value would be better served via a commemorative garden and adaptive play area than via preservation of the existing structure. LUBA agreed.

Hoar said the commemorative garden will include substantial recognition of the former school. Also, the therapy loop will provide patients with a therapeutic environment unlike any other on the hospital campus, and the playground will address a community need.

鈥淭he playground really became an obvious solution for us about two years ago when Easter Seals closed down their playground,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ur physical therapists have been trying to find a solution to the loss of those structures and resources since they closed.鈥�

Victor Dodier, co-chairman of the South Central Association of Neighbors (SCAN), called LUBA’s decision 鈥渁 disappointment,鈥� but said he supports playground construction.

鈥淭here is a crying need in this community for an accessible playground, there’s no question,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut the process of how they reached the decision to demolish Howard Hall basically lays out a road map for any landlord who has a historically designated piece of property and wants to demolish it.鈥�

Of larger concern to Dodier is a separate appeal filed by SCAN to LUBA of the Salem City Council’s decision to approve a major Salem Hospital expansion. SCAN contends that the plans violate city code by allowing construction of too many surface parking spaces and removal of too many trees.

鈥淭he larger issue of the trees and the parking lot size are concerning to us,鈥� Dodier said. 鈥淚t’s a pattern of development that goes against what we have understood are the hospital’s plans to preserve the trees.

Hoar explained that in order to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards, the hospital must grade the site to a level that makes preservation of some of the trees impossible.

鈥淭hat’s what they’ve said, but I find it difficult to believe,鈥� Dodier said. 鈥�ADA does have fairly profound requirements, and they do ask a lot of things you wouldn’t expect, but to make the whole world flat seems excessive.鈥�

Hoar said she expects LUBA to issue a final order on the appeal regarding the parking and trees sometime this week. If LUBA rules in favor of Salem Health, she said construction could begin in the spring.