diff --git a/docs/modernization/debt.md b/docs/modernization/debt.md
index dcf15b11..00b52956 100644
--- a/docs/modernization/debt.md
+++ b/docs/modernization/debt.md
@@ -18,6 +18,13 @@ agent or engineer to remove them without reconstructing context from chat.
 
 ## Recent Reductions
 
+- 2026-06-15: `DEBT-0038` was narrowed again. The retained cloud downloaded-
+  project open camera reset and layer-clear setup in
+  `execute_legacy_downloaded_project_open()` now routes through a focused
+  helper in `src/legacy_document_open_services.cpp` instead of living inline
+  in the document-open bridge; the remaining cloud bridge debt stays
+  concentrated in retained prompt/progress lifetime, OpenGL context guarding,
+  and the still-retained transfer-thread execution model.
 - 2026-06-15: `DEBT-0038` was narrowed again. The retained cloud downloaded-
   project open, layer refresh, and action-history reset in
   `execute_legacy_downloaded_project_open()` now route through a focused
diff --git a/docs/modernization/roadmap.md b/docs/modernization/roadmap.md
index 6a9ea36e..e5499d0f 100644
--- a/docs/modernization/roadmap.md
+++ b/docs/modernization/roadmap.md
@@ -104,6 +104,11 @@ Retained save-before-upload execution now also routes through
 directly, so the remaining cloud debt is further concentrated on
 prompt/progress lifetime, OpenGL context guarding, downloaded-project open,
 layer refresh, and action-history reset.
+Retained cloud downloaded-project open camera reset and layer-clear setup in
+`execute_legacy_downloaded_project_open()` now also routes through a focused
+helper in `src/legacy_document_open_services.*`, so the remaining cloud bridge
+debt is further concentrated on prompt/progress lifetime, OpenGL context
+guarding, and the still-retained transfer-thread execution model.
 Retained cloud downloaded-project open, layer refresh, and action-history
 reset in `execute_legacy_downloaded_project_open()` now also route through a
 focused helper in `src/legacy_document_open_services.*`, so the remaining
diff --git a/docs/modernization/tasks.md b/docs/modernization/tasks.md
index f8c16daa..ecb91430 100644
--- a/docs/modernization/tasks.md
+++ b/docs/modernization/tasks.md
@@ -1344,6 +1344,43 @@ Completed Task Log:
 | --- | --- | ---: | --- | --- |
 | 2026-06-15 | ADP-035 | no score movement | `powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File scripts\\automation\\quiet-validate.ps1 -BuildTargets pano_cli -TestRegex "pp_app_core_document_cloud"` | `69603ed6` |
 
+### ADP-036 - Extract Downloaded Project Open Prep Helper
+
+Status: Done
+Score: no score movement
+Debt: `DEBT-0038`
+Scope: `src/legacy_document_open_services.*` only
+
+Closeout: `69603ed6`
+
+Goal:
+
+Reduce the inline retained downloaded-project open setup surface by
+extracting the camera reset and layer-clear path from
+`execute_legacy_downloaded_project_open()` into a focused helper while
+preserving current behavior.
+
+Done Checks:
+
+- The retained downloaded-project camera reset and layer-clear setup no
+  longer lives inline in `execute_legacy_downloaded_project_open()`.
+- The retained downloaded-project open setup now routes through a focused
+  helper in `src/legacy_document_open_services.cpp`.
+- `DEBT-0038` and the roadmap note the reduced remaining cloud bridge
+  surface.
+
+Validation:
+
+```powershell
+powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File scripts\\automation\\quiet-validate.ps1 -BuildTargets pano_cli -TestRegex "pp_app_core_document_cloud"
+```
+
+Completed Task Log:
+
+| Date | Task | Score | Validation | Commit |
+| --- | --- | ---: | --- | --- |
+| 2026-06-15 | ADP-036 | no score movement | `powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File scripts\\automation\\quiet-validate.ps1 -BuildTargets pano_cli -TestRegex "pp_app_core_document_cloud"` | `69603ed6` |
+
 ### RND-001 - Make Pure Equirectangular Export The Primary Success Path
 
 Status: Done
diff --git a/src/legacy_document_open_services.cpp b/src/legacy_document_open_services.cpp
index 16acaf1e..291f9e7b 100644
--- a/src/legacy_document_open_services.cpp
+++ b/src/legacy_document_open_services.cpp
@@ -78,6 +78,14 @@ void reconcile_downloaded_project_open(App& app)
     ActionManager::clear();
 }
 
+void prepare_downloaded_project_open(App& app)
+{
+    const auto reset_status = execute_legacy_canvas_camera_reset(app);
+    if (!reset_status.ok())
+        LOG("Cloud download camera reset failed: %s", reset_status.message);
+    app.layers->clear();
+}
+
 class LegacyDocumentOpenServices final : public pp::app::DocumentOpenServices {
 public:
     explicit LegacyDocumentOpenServices(App& app) noexcept
@@ -153,11 +161,7 @@ void execute_legacy_downloaded_project_open(
     std::string_view path,
     std::string_view name)
 {
-    const auto reset_status = execute_legacy_canvas_camera_reset(app);
-    if (!reset_status.ok())
-        LOG("Cloud download camera reset failed: %s", reset_status.message);
-    app.layers->clear();
-
+    prepare_downloaded_project_open(app);
     app.canvas->m_canvas->project_open_thread(std::string(path));
 
     app.doc_name = std::string(name);