Kevin and Ida Lafky are working on a new
project sure to draw not only public praise,
but something much bigger, a cornerstone,
an institution.
“Bringing Western Oregon University
to Downtown Salem wouldn’t be possible
without the vision and of John Minahan
(President of Western Oregon University),”
said Ida Lafky. Ida is a 1998 Graduate of
WOU. This is just another way for Ida to
do what she does best.
Making things happen seems to be the
Lafky family business. Successful Salem
attorney Kevin Lafky, Ida Lafky and their
venture partners, Marion Park LLC are
in the initial phase of re-developing the
Marion St. Parking structure to include
60 Apartments, retail space and WOU
classroom facilities.
“Workforce housing is what Downtown
Salem needs,” said Kevin Lakfy. “This
type of mid-range residence is needed for
the overall success of the Downtown core.
Turning the Marion St. Parking structure
over to private developers will save the City
of Salem around a half million dollars per
year. Bringing Western State University to
Downtown Salem is priceless. The mix of
the WSU demographic will certainly add to
the over-all appeal of Downtown Salem.
Ida and Kevin Lafky are invested and
committed to Downtown Salem. With
construction well underway of their
“Rivers” condo project, the Lafky’s vision
is rising nicely and well on its way to
completion.
The WSU-Salem project is certainly
receiving a big welcome as young people
come to Downtown Salem. This diversity
of population is what great cities are made
of.
Read more about this ongoing
development in the summer editions of the
Salem Business Journal.
Yost Purchases Vick Building in Downtown Salem
Roger Yost increased his property
holdings in Downtown Salem recently
with the $4.5 million purchase of the
Vick Building at 525 Trade Street from
a Los Angeles corporation that has
owned the landmark since 1986.
The Vick, a 35,075 square foot
masonry building constructed in
1920 to house a tractor dealer, and
now housing State of Oregon judicial
and health divisions, is Yost’s fourth
Downtown property purchase since
2003. The others are the historic
Continued on page 6
Lisa Martinson’s One Year Anniversary with Glance
January 1, 2008 marked the one year
anniversary of Lisa Martinsson’s purchase
of Glance Optics and Eyewear, the optical
boutique in downtown Salem. This turning
point also marks the sixth year of success
for Salem’s premier optical shop.
It would seem that this story started when
Lisa gleefully accepted the offer of a very
successful Salem Ophthalmology practice
to help open and manage a high-end,
fashionable optical boutique. Lisa took
on the challenge out of a desire to create
an optical experience unlike any she had
