48 veteran apartments at Tabernacle Church approved; Council committee OKs 5-year capital plan
The Salem Planning Board voted 8-0 on June 25 to approve a special permit allowing Beacon Communities to convert the Tabernacle Congregational Church at 50 Washington Street into 48 studio apartments for veterans. The vote highlighted a two-week period that also saw City Council actions on the capital improvement plan and the high school project.
Housing and development
The Planning Board also approved a letter of support to MassDOT for the Forest River Residences stormwater plan (8-0) and continued the Forest River public hearing to July 9. A request for a Lafayette Street culvert amendment was continued to July 9 on a 7-0 vote with one abstention. Tom Furey was appointed to the Community Preservation Committee (8-0).
On July 9, the Planning Board will review several large-scale proposals: adaptive reuse of three Salem State buildings into 145 dwelling units at 8 Harrison Road; site plan amendments for North Shore Community Development Corp. properties on Lafayette and Derby streets; demolition and adaptive reuse near Margin Street to create 53 affordable homes and a 70-bed shelter; demolition of upper floors at Pickering Wharf, 57 Wharf Street, to add 18 dwelling units; and a decision-extension request for 252 Bridge Street.
City Council and finance
The City Council Committee on Administration and Finance recommended approval of the 2027-2031 Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan on June 25, carrying the motion 5-0 without discussion. The full Council the same night authorized the mayor to sign a Project Scope and Budget Agreement with the Massachusetts School Building Authority for the high school project (11-0).
Also on June 25, the Council confirmed Krystle Brown to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board (11-0), approved an $8,926.62 transfer and a $6,500 appropriation from Free Cash for copier supplies, referred a rent stabilization resolution to a joint committee, and held appointments to the Race Equity Commission and Planning/Zoning Board until the next meeting.
Other board decisions
The Design Review Board on June 24 approved five sign permits in 5-0 votes: Black Cat (100 Washington Street, with height waiver), Sinistry (11 Church Street), Warren Museum (259 Essex Street, with surety bond and blade sign conditions), Mexizol (24 Congress Street, with surety bond condition), and Odd Meter Coffee & Kitchen (60 Washington Street, with condition to paint background). The board also acknowledged review of interpretive signage at 266 Canal Street with a comment on accessibility and approved May 20 meeting minutes.
School Committee agendas from June 22 outlined discussions of restroom designs for the new high school and preparations for the superintendent search, including ratification of the executive director of special education contract and approval of warrants totaling $1,997,173.34. No final votes were recorded for those meetings; separate interviews with finalists are scheduled this week.
Coming up
The City Council’s Committee on Community and Economic Development will meet jointly with the Committee of the Whole on July 6 to discuss a rent stabilization resolution.
The School Committee holds special meetings to interview superintendent finalists: Thomas Welch on July 6, Jorge Allen on July 7, and Andrew Bott on July 9. All sessions are at 29 Highland Ave., Room 227.
The Housing Authority Board meets July 8 for a public hearing and vote on the Draft State Annual Plan/Capital Improvement Plan, along with a final payment of $18,870 for an elevator upgrade at 27 Charter Street and approval of write-offs.
The Salem Redevelopment Authority on July 8 receives an update on the historic courthouses and Crescent Lot, considers appointing Joe Badowski to the Design Review Board, and reviews window replacement at 6 Front Street.
The Historical Commission on July 15 will weigh demolition delay waivers for roofs at 15 Willow Avenue and 26 Linden Street, plus certificates of appropriateness for 2 River Street and 21 North Street.
Generated from official meeting agendas and minutes — every underlying document is linked from the city page. Read the primary source before you rely on a detail.