Mayor: $45M Development Would 'Breathe New Life' Into Underused Salem Block

At their meeting at City Hall Thursday night, Salem City Council members unanimously approved a motion to designate a 29,000-square-foot parcel off of Washington Street surplus, paving the way for a new $45 million mixed-use development that Mayor Kim Driscoll hopes will revitalize an underutilized downtown block. 

RCG, a developer based in Somerville, is hoping to erect a five-to-six story building on a parcel bordered by Washington and Dodge streets with space for a hotel, retail space, offices and housing units.

Prior to Thursday night's council meeting, we sat down with Driscoll at her office to discuss the project, local residents' parking concerns and what the development could mean for the future of the city.

"We see the proposed project as an opportunity to extend the downtown," Driscoll said, adding "it will give us the ability to have that alfresco dining and those wide sidewalks that pedestrians love."

The council's decision Thursday night means the space will soon be put out to bid and area developers are now free to send in proposals.

"We want to assure that we are getting a quality development that's attractive and fits in with a historic downtown and is also hip and urban," Driscoll said.

What do you think of RCG's proposal? What are your concerns?

Let us know in the comments section below.