$600K State Grant To Help Restore Historic Salem Buildings For Reuse

The Federal Street courthouse and county commissioner's building will be redeveloped into mixed-used housing, commercial and retail spaces.

October 31, 2022 : Salem Patch, by Scott Souza

SALEM, MA — A $600,000 state grant is set to provide a big boost to plans to turn the former superior courthouse and county commissioner's buildings on Federal Street in Salem into mixed-use housing, commercial and retail space.

The city received the grant through the state's Underutilized Properties Program.

"Since taking office, we have been proud to make significant investments in helping our cities, towns and local partners achieve their economic development goals through a range of grant programs and legislation aimed at advancing the diverse needs of municipalities across the state," Gov. Charlie Baker said. "The projects awarded funding today build upon that work and will create jobs, build housing, revitalize spaces and empower communities in every region of the Commonwealth."

WinnDevelopment is developing plans for the project, which include the restoration of the court buildings' interior and exterior architecture. The plan is for the buildings to also include commercial and event space and act as "a key entrance to downtown Salem."

"Restoring and re-activating these long-vacant structures in a historically sensitive way is a complex undertaking, and we appreciate the investment that the Commonwealth, MassDevelopment and the city of Salem have made in the important tasks that must be completed before this adaptive reuse project can begin," WinnDevelopment Senior Project Director Ramie Schneider said.