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Special Report to the Project Oversight Committee <br />"What is the County's need for the project" <br />December 31, 1997 <br />Preface: <br />The decision that lead to participation in Courthouse Square spans over nearly three decades. <br />Hundreds of citizens, county staff, community organizations and several committees ha~e <br />influenced facility planning for Marion County. This report chronicles the history leading up to <br />the Courthouse Square decision and rational used to support that decision. <br />History: <br />The story of Courthouse Square has its beginning in 1973 when Marion County decided to <br />purchase the old Senator Hotel. Over the neact three yeazs, the hotel was renovated into needed <br />office space. Even in these eazly years, government partnerships were evident. In addition to <br />countyoff`ices, the building was home to the Marion County Housing Authority, Mid-Willamtte <br />Council of Governments and Senior Services Agency as well as several private retail businesses. <br />It was in these eazly yeazs that the county first formulated a plan for redeveloping the block into <br />public service building to consolidate county off`ices. <br />In 1978 and again in 1981, studies were completed by the City of Salem identifying the Senator <br />Block as the prefened site for a transit center. In 1984, the Transit District and Mazion County <br />recognized the opportunity for a public/private joint development venture. Further studies were <br />commissioned in 1985, 1989 and again in 1991, but the lack ~f funding and political <br />commitment together with opposition from adjacent businesses delayed implementation of a <br />joint venture. <br />In 1984, the county was faced with the burden of providing space for a growing court system. <br />U~der Oregon law, counties must provide and fund facility space for state court operations. This <br />challenge was met by purchasing the Franklin Building using certificates of participation <br />(COPs). Over the neact eight (8) yeazs, .county departments were relocated into the Franklin <br />Building, the Beri Building was purchased and the old jail in the Courthouse was remodeled for <br />