Housing in Old Salem Jail – Restaurant & Museum to Follow

After beginning in December 2006, the renovation of the Old Salem Jail in Salem, Mass is nearing completion.  According to the Salem Gazette, developer New Boston Ventures finished its renovation earlier this year and held its first open house a few weeks ago.  An estimated 3,000 people came to see the refurbished jail and within a little more than a week, 21 of the 23 available units had been leased out.

The original plan for the redevelopment was to turn the jail into condo units available for purchase, but the economic crash changed the plan to a minimum of 5-year rentals, with current residents having a right of first refusal to purchase their unit with part of their rent from their lease term being applied to the purchase price.  The condo units, which range in size from 800 to 2,600 square feet and rent from $1,200 to $2,600, have 12- to 15-foot high ceilings and views of the North River. There are 30 parking spaces included as part of the project’s footprint, mostly for use of the Old Salem Jail’s residents.

New Boston Ventures founder David Goldman said the restaurant on the ground floor of the building will be opening soon and will be called — appropriately — The Great Escape.  The restaurant, much like the condo building itself, will embrace the history of the jail, incorporating old jail cell doors and other historical decor throughout the dining area.

There will be a public museum open seven days a week that displays all of the history of the building that Goldman didn’t incorporate into the condos. It will have its own entrance separate of the residential entrance and the hours of operation have yet to be determined.  Also, some space in the building will be reserved to act as an artist’s studio, too.

Read the entire Salem Gazette article.