GA Blog

2.3.10 Old Salem Jail to be Housing / Restaurant

According to the Salem Gazette, the old Salem Jail, at the corner of Bridge and St. Peters Street in Salem, MN, will likely be transformed into 23 condo units (which may be first available as apartments), a restaurant and a small museum devoted to the jail’s history.

The old Salem jail property includes an 1813 Gothic-style jail, a 3-story jail keeper’s house that was built by renowned 19th-century New England architect Samuel McIntire, and a 3rd building constructed in the style of an 1800’s wooden carriage house that had to be torn down due to poor condition.

According to David Goldman, the founder of developer New Boston Ventures, the condo units are all uniquely beautiful, especially those within the old jailhouse which have windows that extend from ceiling to floor and cathedral ceilings up to 18 feet high.  Two of the jail cells will be preserved and used as an exhibition space complete with rusty keys, old bottles and prisoners’ beds. Additionally, granite taken from the floors of the cells will be used to pave the condominium’s walkways while cell doors will be utilized in the condo’s hallways as “ornamental reminders of what used to be there.”

Read the entire Salem Gazette article.

2.2.10 Windrush Farm in Boxford & North Andover

The Tri-Town Transcript reported recently that Windrush Farm, a 195-acre mix of fields, forest, and a rare Atlantic White Cedar Bog located in North Andover and Boxford, will be protected land “forever.”

A partnership consisting of the Trust for Public Land (TPL) – a national non-profit conservation organization, the Windrush Farm Therapeutic Equitation, Inc. (WFTE), the Towns of North Andover and Boxford, and Essex County Greenbelt Association (Greenbelt) purchased the land for $3.5 million with a combination of Town and State funding, private foundations, and 468 individual donors.

The Windrush Farm Therapeutic Equitation was founded in 1964 and provides equine-assisted therapies to more than 300 children and adults with disabilities, including veterans of war.  The Tri-Town Transcipt reports that WFTE is the pioneer of more than 780 programs of its kind supported by the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association; WFTE plans to expand the number and variety of programs to include the general public, such as community gardens and summer camps.

Windrush Farm contains State-recognized critical wildlife habitat supporting rare and endangered species. Its protection creates a nearly 1800-acre contiguous block of conservation land and connects to an extensive trail network including the Bay Circuit Trail and trails in Boxford State Forest. Conserving Windrush Farm also protects the Ipswich River watershed-providing drinking water to more than 330,000 residents in 15 Massachusetts communities.

Read the entire Tri-Town Transcript.

1.27.10 New Danvers Waterfront Village District

The Salem News reported recently that Danvers created a new waterfront village district at a recent Special Town meeting that may somebody host a mix of small businesses, restaurants and homes in a Pickering Wharf-like setting.  The area will be located on both sides of Water Street (Route 35) and Liberty Street.

Of note to NSAR members –- one of the areas rezoned last night includes the now-vacant site of the ink and paint factory on the east side of Water Street that exploded on Nov. 22, 2006. The new waterfront village district will preclude industrial users from relocating on that parcel, which has been vacant since the infamous explosion.

The Town Meeting also rezoned much of the land on the west side of Water Street by creating a new Danversport industrial area, which will add research and development and trade shops to the area, while future fuel storage, repair, service stations and motor vehicle dealers were removed.

The rezoning is the culmination of 3 years of planning by the Planning Board, consultants and Danvers residents.

Read the entire Salem News article.

1.8.10 Gordon College looks into leasing at Mack Park for Office & Residence

According to The Salem News, Gordon College, a private Christian college in Wenham, is inquiring into leasing a vacant building in Pack Park in Salem, MA for a potential office and residence hall for students.

Gordon College already has lease agreements with the city to run programs at Old Town Hall and Pioneer Village. In the spring, it plans to launch a new academic program in historic interpretation linked to those two programs and wants to open an office in the city and secure living quarters for five or six students with an adult supervisor.  It has similar off-campus, satellite programs in Lynn and Gloucester.

The academic program will run from May through November, offer courses right in Salem and provide college credit. College administrators feel it is important for the students to experience Salem by taking courses here and living nearby. 

1.7.10 Danvers Housing Authority Approves Affordable Housing Apartments

According to The Danvers Herald, the Danvers Board of Selectmen approved a warrant article that will transfer a Cherry Street to the Danvers Housing Authority, which has plans to create 3 affordable housing apartments.

Town Manager Wayne Marquis and the selectmen’s Affordable Housing Subcommittee have been seeking ways to add affordable units.  Back-taxes are $45,000, legal fees are $15,000, and Public Works Department costs to keep the building in reasonable repair are $9,800, said Assistant Planning Director Susan Fletcher during the meeting.

The Housing Authority, which has almost a $1 million operating budget, is profitable.  Federal and state money that the authority receives annually must be used to maintain and upgrade currently owned Housing Authority properties and cannot be used for purchases of new property, she explained.  “The town has $500,000 put aside for affordable housing, given to the town by the developers of the state hospital,” said Selectman Bennett.

Read the entire Danvers Herald article.

1.3.10 Gloucester Mayor Seeks to Purchase Waterfront Property

According to The Gloucester Daily Times, second-term Gloucester Mayor Carolyn Kirk is looking to purchase long vacant waterfront property, parcels I-4, C-2.  The current plan is to acquire the property, erect a sign that says 'Under Idea Development," and then turn to the community for ideas for what to do with it.

The purchase price is currently being negotiated.  Mayor Kirk has stated that the $800,000 Gloucester received from the state’s the Seaport Advisory Council for harbor improvements was more than half the money needed for the purchase.

Read the entire Gloucester Daily Times article.