A property in Salem that formerly held city hall from 1895 to 1972 is gaining a 78,855-square-foot multifamily development.

Construction crews broke ground on the six-story building, Citizen Apartments, on Thursday at 277 High St. N.E. Deacon Development is developing the $25 million project and Dalke Construction of Salem is the general contractor.

“We chose the name Citizen Apartments to honor that history (of the former city hall) and the people who shape the city today,” Kathy Delarosa, development manager at Deacon Development, stated in an email.

Studio 3 Architecture of Salem designed the project. The team also includes civil engineer Westech Engineering of Salem, structural engineer Harper Houf Peterson Righellis, landscape architect Laurus Designs LLC of Silverton, and geotechnical engineer GeoPacific Engineering of Tigard.

Last year, Dalke Construction completed the Rivenwood Apartments in Salem for Deacon Development. Partnering with a local contractor means most of the subcontractors are local as well, Delarosa stated. All subcontractors have been selected.

“This helps strengthen the community, stimulates local economic growth and aligns with our company values,” Delarosa stated.

Citizen Apartments will have 105 units, including studios, one-bedroom units and two-bedroom units. Sixteen will be affordable units as part of the city’s Multi-Unit Housing Tax Incentive Program. Tall window bays will let ample natural light into the units.

The building is designed to feel at home in downtown Salem while still looking fresh and modern, Delarosa stated. The first floor of the exterior will be brick veneer to complement surrounding older structures, while the upper floors will have a mix of metal panels and fiber cement siding to create a contemporary look. Offsets in the siding and balconies are intended to add texture and break down the overall scale.

At street level, glazing and canopies were designed to activate the street corner and create pedestrian-oriented frontage, according to Delarosa.

Building amenities will include a coffee bar, a mail room with parcel lockers, a fitness center, secure bike storage, a pet wash station, Electric vehicle parking and charging (on level 2), a co-working lounge with a private work pod, a community room equipped with a kitchen and games and a semi-private theater room, and a roof terrace with a barbecue area and city views.

The project team received land use approval in May 2024. Construction is expected to wrap up in spring 2027.

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