Site Activation — Now City West Salem

Overview

The operating prototype for the full district

Before vertical construction begins, the district goes to work. Interim activation creates immediate operating identity, tenant demand, community support, and revenue — while the Mark May JV and long-term ground-up phases proceed. Each activation layer is conservative, fast, and reversible: control strategic buildings, activate them economically, prove demand, then exercise options or move into permanent development.

01 · Now City Market

A daily civic marketplace on the Wallace Road frontage — visibility, traffic, and cultural momentum at low capital.

02 · Live-Work Campus

50–60 raw, high-ceiling lofts plus a community sports & wellness center in the 400 Patterson bow-truss buildings.

03 · Arts District

809 Edgewater + parts of 300 Patterson as galleries, studios, markets, and evening riverfront programming.

04 · Scandi Block

Phase 1A — the first permanent build: a Scandinavian courtyard block the activation layers feed into.

This page collects the activation concepts in one place as part of the living plan. Strategy context lives in the Business Plan (Phase 0B — Interim Activation & Revenue Strategy); investment context in the Investment Summary.

01 · Site Activation Strategy

Now City Market: activate the Wallace Road frontage now

A daily civic marketplace on the district's most visible edge — 12,100 to 41,200 vehicles per day, in a city of 180,000 (440,000 metro). Low capital, flexible structures, immediate cultural momentum: a $1.3M–$1.4M prototype built from timber, containers, and mobile elements that keeps Phase 1B land "alive" while proving the district to the region.

From the Now City Market — Site Activation Strategy (March 2026). Slides presented as designed.

Now City Market site activation strategy cover

The paradigm shift — traditional development versus activation-first

Why Wallace Road wins — traffic and population

The financial prototype — total estimated capital $1.3M to $1.4M

The real value multiplier — approximately $4.2M increase in real estate value at a 6% cap rate

Enable Phase 1B to become the living prototype

Precedents

Torvehallerne — Copenhagen, Denmark

Reffen & Broens — Copenhagen, Denmark

Boxpark — London, United Kingdom

02 · Initial Plan · 400 Patterson

The Bow-Truss Live-Work Campus

A lease-to-own structure for the 400 Patterson bow-truss warehouse campus creates immediate income and proves district demand before full redevelopment — while preserving flexibility if the buildings are later replaced by the permanent sports & entertainment phase.

Buildings 1 & 2 · Live-Work Lofts

Two of the three 40,000 SF buildings converted into 50–60 large, raw, high-ceiling live-work lofts
Roughly 1,500–2,000 SF each
Built fast and economically with modular/demountable interiors
Target hard-cost range starting around $50/SF

Building 3 · Sports & Wellness Center

Pickleball / padel courts
Fitness and indoor recreation
Youth programming
Events
Pilots the permanent 100,000+ SF sports & recreation facility planned for Phase 3

The Economics

Interim operating revenue from day one
Activates the district and builds community
Supports the lease-option economics
Helps finance eventual acquisition
Preserves long-term flexibility

Aerial of the 400 Patterson bow-truss campus — The campus today — three 40,000 SF bow-truss buildings

Bow truss interior with timber trusses — Clear spans, high ceilings, heavy timber — the raw material

Live-work loft concept references

Bow truss interior volume — 40,000 SF volumes ready for modular fit-out

Bow truss interior with mezzanine — Existing mezzanine condition — a template for loft sections

03 · Concept · 809 Edgewater + 300 Patterson

The Arts District

We imagine 809 Edgewater and parts of 300 Patterson as an Arts District — galleries, studios, markets, and evening programming that bring people to the riverfront early, build cultural identity, and seed demand for the district's later phases, while protecting 809 Edgewater for its highest and best long-term use.

809 Edgewater — Arts District interim use concept

300 Patterson existing warehouse campus aerial — 300 Patterson — existing campus, future studios & galleries

300 Patterson existing building frontage — Existing conditions along Patterson St NW

04 · Phase 1A Investor Preview

The Scandi Block: where activation becomes permanence

The activation layers feed directly into the district's first permanent build — a 2.3-acre Scandinavian courtyard block with Japanese garden philosophy: 200 attainable, healthy, beautiful homes around a quiet interior garden with walkable retail edges.

From the Scandi Block Investor Preview (March 2026). Slides presented as designed; current financials in the Investment Summary.