The City of Salem is in the process of finalizing the purchase of a lot in the 200 block of West McMackin Street to use as the focal point of downtown events.
Economic Development Director Leah Dellicarpini told the quarterly meeting to update progress on the strategic plan that the city was able to purchase the lot for $45,000 and is working towards closure of the sale.
She says the next step is to put some money in a future budget to develop a plan and building for the lot.
“Bouncing around some ideas, mostly we want a pavilion or a building that can give an indoor-outdoor feel. That can be used not only for food truck events, but also concerts, music events, farmers markets, craft fairs, those sorts of things.”
Dellicarpini is looking towards a building in downtown Alton that has a similar purpose. She notes it has large garage doors that can be opened in the summer for open air events and closed for cold weather events.
The lot is adjacent to the new downtown Salem parking lot that stretches the rest of the south side of the 200 block of West McMackin Street.
