Since our last update, we have been working with state and local agencies as we move through the process to activate and preserve the Dome Building, including discussions related to permitting, occupancy, and historic preservation requirements. We have also expanded conversations with community partners, nonprofit organizations, housing advocates, and potential supporters interested in the long-term success of the project.
At the same time, our team is refining plans for how the building could serve Salem through a combination of affordable housing, community space, educational programming, and nonprofit collaboration.

While significant work remains ahead, we are highly encouraged by the progress being made and the positive response we continue to receive from stakeholders across the community.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this effort. We look forward to sharing additional updates as new milestones are reached.

The Dome Building Community Coalition (DBCC) has officially submitted its Notice of Interest to the State of Oregon through the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) Clearinghouse process. This marks an important step in what has been a long and thoughtful effort to preserve and activate one of Salem’s most recognizable historic buildings for community use.

What is the Clearinghouse Process?
Before the state can sell or dispose of surplus property on the open market, Oregon law requires a 30-day “Clearinghouse” period. During this time, public entities, tribes, and qualified nonprofit housing developers have the opportunity to express interest in acquiring the property—particularly for uses that serve a public benefit.
DBCC submitted its interest within this window as a nonprofit organization aligned with that purpose.

Why the Dome Building?
For us, this project is about more than a building.  The Dome Building represents a rare opportunity to create something Salem does not currently have: a centralized, community-driven space that brings together youth programming, nonprofit collaboration, and accessible services under one roof.  Our proposal focuses on three core outcomes:

• Preservation of the historic structure for long-term public use
• Activation of the space as a hub for education, nonprofits, and community programming
• Housing for youth and young adults, as well as seniors, aligned with state affordability requirements

We believe these goals reflect both the intent of the Clearinghouse process and the broader needs of the community.

A Practical Path Forward
One of the key challenges with the Dome Building is the cost of redevelopment. Estimates for full renovation exceed $13 million, with seismic upgrades alone approaching $5 million.

Rather than waiting for a fully funded, large-scale redevelopment that may never materialize, our approach is different.

We are proposing a phased activation model—using existing infrastructure to bring the building into immediate, responsible use, while pursuing long-term capital improvements through grants, partnerships, and historic preservation funding.
​This allows the building to begin serving the community sooner, while building momentum for future investment.

What Happens Next?
Following the 30-day Clearinghouse period, the state will determine next steps. If a qualifying entity is selected, negotiations may begin. If not, the property may move to a broader public process.  We understand that this is just one step in a larger process, but it is a meaningful one.

Moving Forward
We are encouraged by the level of community interest and support that has already emerged around this project. Local leaders, organizations, and residents have consistently expressed a desire to see the Dome Building preserved and put back into use in a way that benefits Salem.

That is exactly what we are working toward.

We will continue to keep the community informed as the process moves forward.

In the meantime, we remain focused on building partnerships, refining the plan, and doing the work necessary to make this vision a reality.

The Dome Building Community Coalition is guided by a clear threefold mission: to develop income-restricted housing for youth, young adults, workforce renters, and seniors; to preserve and steward the historic Dome Building; and to activate the space for lasting public benefit. This blog shares the thinking, planning, and community collaboration behind that work. Here you will find updates on affordable housing development, historic preservation strategy, policy alignment, and the practical steps required to transform a landmark into a living, mission-driven community asset.

Affordable Housing, Historic Preservation, and Community BenefitThe Dome Building Community Coalition (DBCC) exists to steward one of Salem’s most recognizable historic landmarks in a manner that serves both present and future generations. Our vision is built upon three interconnected priorities:

1. Affordable Housing
2. Historic Preservation
3. Community Benefit

These priorities are not competing goals. They are mutually reinforcing and together provide a sustainable path forward for the Dome Building.

Affordable Housing
Affordable housing is the cornerstone of DBCC’s redevelopment vision.
DBCC is committed to developing housing opportunities for individuals and households earning at or below 80 percent of Marion County’s median family income. Given the building’s configuration, structural layout, and urban setting, the Dome is particularly well suited to serving:

• Youth and emerging adults
• Workforce renters and young professionals
• Seniors seeking stable, affordable housing

While the building is not ideally configured for large family units, it offers significant potential for smaller, thoughtfully designed residences integrated within a mixed-use historic environment.
Potential housing opportunities include:

• Workforce housing for individuals priced out of market-rate rentals
• Stability-focused housing for young adults
• Independent living options for seniors
• Income-restricted housing aligned with state and local priorities

By focusing on populations whose housing needs align with the building’s physical characteristics, DBCC can maximize both community impact and long-term feasibility.

Building Historic Preservation
The Dome Building is more than a structure—it is an important civic landmark and a significant part of Salem’s history.
Preservation is central to DBCC’s mission. Our approach emphasizes:

• Retention of significant historic features
• Compliance with preservation standards and guidelines
• Thoughtful modernization that respects historic character
• Long-term stewardship of the building and its grounds

Historic preservation and affordable housing are often viewed as separate objectives. We believe they can strengthen one another. Adaptive reuse preserves cultural heritage, reduces demolition waste, conserves embodied energy, and revitalizes existing community assets.  Our goal is not simply to preserve a building, but to ensure that its history remains a living part of Salem’s future.

Community Benefit
In addition to housing, the Dome Building will provide space for uses that strengthen community life and expand public benefit, including:

• Educational programming
• Civic engagement activities
• Cultural and arts events
• Nonprofit and community-serving organizations
• Meeting, training, and collaboration space for public-serving initiatives

This mixed-use approach creates activity throughout the day and throughout the year while supporting the long-term sustainability of the property.
The Dome is envisioned as a place where people live, learn, gather, and collaborate—a community asset that remains active, accessible, and relevant for generations to come.

A diverse mix of uses helps ensure:

• Continuous activation of the property
• Financial resilience
• Public access and engagement
• Long-term operational viability

Housing provides stability. Preservation provides identity. Community benefit provides purpose.

A Vision for Long-Term Stewardship
Oregon law prioritizes affordable housing when surplus public property is considered for disposition. DBCC embraces that principle while recognizing that the greatest public benefit often comes from integrating multiple community goals into a single project.
Our vision ensures that the Dome Building remains:

• Historically significant
• Socially relevant
• Economically sustainable
• Publicly beneficial

​This is not redevelopment for short-term gain. It is stewardship for long-term impact.  DBCC is prepared to pursue a future for the Dome Building that:

• Develops affordable housing for households earning at or below 80 percent of Marion County’s median family income
• Preserves and restores the building’s historic character
• Provides meaningful community benefit through educational, civic, cultural, and nonprofit uses

​The Dome Building has the potential to become a model for how affordable housing, historic preservation, and community benefit can work together to create lasting public value.

Housing anchors it. Preservation defines it. Community benefits from it.

You are invited!  Are you:

• A current partner/supporter?
• Interested in the Dome Building status?
• Possibly wanting to volunteer/support this project?
• Otherwise curious what is going on?

​To join the video meeting, click this link: https://meet.google.com/ueq-yjgs-fsv 

Otherwise, to join by phone, dial +1 470-839-8278 and enter this PIN: 832 215 880#. To view more phone numbers, click this link: https://tel.meet/ueq-yjgs-fsv?hs=5

The Department of Administrative Services has confirmed a clear and transparent path for the Dome Building’s disposition that prioritizes public-benefit and mission-driven entities. The required Clearinghouse process favors nonprofits and public partners before any open-market sale, aligning closely with DBCC’s preservation-first, community-use model.
​DAS’s emphasis on historic stewardship, operational capacity, and long-term feasibility reinforces the need for a qualified nonprofit steward rather than speculative redevelopment—precisely the role DBCC is designed to serve. The upcoming Public Lands Advisory Committee consultation and extended timeline reflect the complexity of responsibly transferring a historic asset and create meaningful opportunities for DBCC’s proposal to be considered within the formal process.

Historic buildings in Oregon do demand higher capital and operating investments, but these expenditures are not simply costs; they are catalysts for economic activity, skilled job creation, and preservation of the state's unique architectural heritage. Rehabilitation of the Dome Building can drive local employment through specialized construction, design, and compliance work, while attracting federal and state preservation incentives. It is estimated that this project could create approximately 150 skilled jobs in Marion County, offering significant economic benefits to the area. These investments ensure the building's safety, seismic resilience, and code compliance, all while honoring its historic fabric. Rather than deterring buyers, this complexity highlights the essential role of public leadership in revitalizing assets that private markets are ill-equipped to steward.

Within Marion County, the regulatory framework for historic preservation ensures that renovations adhere to high standards, but this process also offers an opportunity for the State to demonstrate leadership, transparency, and commitment to community values. While state agencies have faced similar deferred maintenance challenges across Salem facilities, their ability to secure legislatively approved capital funds showcases the resources and resolve required to preserve Oregon’s heritage. 

The Dome Building can serve not only as a model for state stewardship but also as a pilot initiative that sets a precedent for other Oregon communities with similar assets. By supporting the transformation of the Dome Building, the State demonstrates a replicable approach that can be adopted elsewhere, widening support beyond Marion County. For the Dome Building, state ownership transforms deferred maintenance from a private burden into a public opportunity, one that can secure long-term insurability, community trust, and sustainable operating margins through strategic investment.

While operational costs for historic buildings like the Dome Building may exceed those of newer properties, these investments yield lasting returns for the local community and for Oregon's citizens. Modernizing the facility creates opportunities for energy efficiency upgrades, innovative public uses, and expanded community engagement. 

Unlike conventional buyers, DBCC can integrate public, philanthropic, and earned revenue streams to maximize the Dome Building’s value as a civic asset. Rather than a simple real estate transaction, this is an investment in Oregon’s cultural legacy, economic vitality, and the future vibrancy of Marion County.