Phase 2 of Ped Mall Improvement Meetings Scheduled

The following is courtesy of the City of Salem.

Meetings on Pedestrian Mall Phase 2 Improvements  

Design discussions focused on the second phase of improvements to the Essex Street pedestrian mall will be held this month.

The first discussion will be at the Salem Redevelopment Authority (SRA) meeting on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. The second discussion will be at the Design Review Board (DRB) meeting on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at 6:00 PM. Both meetings will be held on the third floor of the City Hall Annex at 120 Washington Street.  

Background

On April 11, 2012, the SRA approved the conceptual plan for pedestrian mall improvements. The work was divided into phases, and construction of phase one was completed on September 14, 2012.

The work in the first phase was limited to the removal of the landscaping beds located in the following three locations: 226 Essex Street (Coon’s); 213 and 215 Essex Street (The Magic Parlor and Derby Square Bookstore), and 197-201 Essex Street (Witch History Museum). These areas were filled in with brick to match the existing pattern.  

The design discussion for the second phase of improvements will focus on the refurbishment of the fountain at Washington Street and the treatment of the cobblestones.  

Please note: Some elements were approved on April 11, 2012, but they were not implemented during phase one construction. These elements will be included in the next phase of construction and include the addition of canopy trees, the removal of the bulletin board kiosk in front of 216 Essex Street (Cabot Money Management), and the removal of the landscaping beds in front of 186 Essex Street (Witch City Ink) and 182 Essex Street (The Bootery). As was done in the first phase of construction, the areas that have something removed will be filled in with brick to match the existing pattern. The removal of the concrete circular planter in front of 210 Essex Street (Salem Five) was also approved on April 11, 2012. However, the revised design has the planter remaining.