A CLOSER LOOK AT THE EXCHANGE SALEM PROJECT
The Exchange Salem project is designed to accomplish four significant goals:
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Reactivate the long-vacant historic courthouses that anchor the intersection, using proven adaptive reuse techniques to transform the interiors to into unique commercial and civic uses.
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Strengthen the vitality of the north end of downtown Salem by activating public spaces and bridging the gap between the courthouses and the MBTA station;
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Create compatible and complimentary uses that increase walkability and pedestrian access through the intersection of Bridge and Washington streets; and,
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Deliver badly needed transit-oriented, affordable mixed-income rental housing to Salem.
After a year of planning discussions and design review with the city and the community, WinnCompanies is seeking Salem Planning Board approval to build The Exchange Salem, a 120-unit, transit-oriented, mixed-income apartment community on the site of the municipal parking lot adjacent to the city’s MBTA station.
The proposed building is one component of a larger development that includes the renovation and rehabilitation of the historic Salem Superior Courthouse and County Commissioner buildings located at 32 and 34 Federal Street.
The application for The Exchange Salem starts the permitting process for the overall development. Permitting for the historic courthouse buildings will begin later this year. Both phases of the redevelopment have earned the endorsement of the Salem Redevelopment Authority (SRA) and received schematic design approval in 2021.
The majority of the 120 apartments proposed for the one-acre lot at 252 Bridge Street would be studio and one-bedroom apartments, with some two-bedroom apartments. Approximately half of the apartments would be considered affordable housing, while the remaining units would be comprised of workforce and market rate apartments.
The development’s design embraces the changing elevations of the site by adding open space on the river level while also improving pedestrian and bicycle connections leading to and from the higher Bridge Street elevation and the lower level MBTA station.
Parking for residents will be provided in a gated 55-car garage at the base of the building, as well as through parking passes for use at the nearby city-owned parking garage. Located on the Bridge Street level, the floor above the building’s parking garage will offer approximately 7,500 square feet of space for residential and commercial uses.
The new building’s facade incorporates stone tones to align to the character and aesthetic of the courthouses across the street, along with wood features that add a layer of warmer color and texture. Apartments will be designed with modern finishes and features and will include in-unit laundry and a full amenity package for residents.
Since May 2021, the development team has hosted and participated in numerous meetings with the SRA’s Design Review Board and neighborhood groups to incorporate community feedback into the proposal. You can learn more about the credentials of the development team on the Project Team page of this web site.
