SALEM — The City of Salem has received critical state grant funding through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Community One Stop for Growth program, supporting several transformative projects that advance Salem’s goals for smart growth, sustainable development, and community well-being.
“The City of Salem greatly appreciates the support the Commonwealth of Massachusetts provides to municipalities,” said Mayor Dominick Pangallo. “State grant funding is critical to our ability to meet goals in housing, economic development, and transportation. These awards will help us advance projects that preserve our history, strengthen our neighborhoods, and build a more sustainable future for all Salem residents.”
The funding will support three major initiatives: the adaptive reuse of Salem’s historic courthouses, the El Centro redevelopment project, and the Jefferson Avenue Corridor Plan. These projects align with the priorities of the Healey-Driscoll Administration and will help advance the City’s long-term vision for housing, economic development, and transportation.
Historic Salem Courthouses: Restoring a Landmark for the Future
Funding from MassDevelopment’s Underutilized Properties Program will support the adaptive reuse of two vacant historic courthouse buildings in downtown Salem. The project will transform the structures into a vibrant mixed-use development featuring new residential and commercial spaces. The restoration represents the final component of the Commonwealth’s decades-long effort to revitalize Salem’s judicial complex and will deliver affordable housing, economic opportunities, and sustainable transportation connections consistent with the Imagine Salem 2026 visioning plan.
El Centro: A Transformational Collaboration in the South River Area
Through the Executive Office of Economic Development MassWorks Program, Salem will advance El Centro, a key component of the South River Transformation Project, a joint venture between the North Shore Community Development Coalition and the North Shore Community Health Center. Located at the intersection of Lafayette, Derby, and Peabody Streets, the project will strengthen connections between downtown Salem, the Salem Point neighborhood, and the waterfront. Plans include a new home for the health center, ground-floor commercial space, and 48 age-restricted affordable housing units, enhancing both access to healthcare and affordable living options for Salem’s seniors.
Jefferson Avenue Corridor Plan: Planning for Revitalization and Connectivity
The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Community Planning Grant Program will fund the Jefferson Avenue Corridor Plan, which will guide the revitalization of this important gateway between Margin Street and the Canal Street/Loring Avenue intersection. The plan will engage residents in developing a shared vision for the corridor, focusing on redeveloping underutilized industrial parcels, promoting affordable housing, improving climate resiliency, and expanding multimodal transportation links; including connections to the forthcoming MBTA South Salem Commuter Rail stop and the Mayor Salvo Multiuse Path.
Read the official award announcement here.
