Developing St. Joseph Church in Salem, MA

A controversy is festering on the potential development of St. Joseph Church, located on Lafayette Street in Salem, MA.  According to the Salem Gazette, the Planning Office for Urban Affairs, which is the real estate arm of the Boston Archdiocese, plans to build about 65 units of affordable housing, including approximately 20 units for the elderly in the former St. Joseph’s School and about 45 more units in a new building, which would also have a retail use on the lower floor.

The Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) has stated that the “developers should be made aware of the historic significance of the structures [on the property] and the possible federal and state tax credit incentives to rehabilitate them appropriately…”

There are two obstacles facing development of St. Joseph Church: (1) ultimate approval from the MHC and (2) a legal battle currently in the Massachusetts Appeals Court brought by a group of local residents alleging the city used “spot zoning” to advance the project.

The developer is hoping to resolve these issues and break ground by late 2010.

Read the entire Salem Gazette article.