The Salem Partnership has been a long-time supporter of the Salem Trial Courts project, recognizing the importance of maintaining the courts presence as an integral part of downtown Salem, both from a civic standpoint and as a contributor to the economic vitality of the city. This project, currently underway with the Division of Capital Asset Management, will create a new state-of-the-art facility, which will serve the community and present an architecturally exciting gateway into Salem.
DCAM concluded work on a preliminary study in 2004, which proposed creating a “courts campus” to bring together different court departments in order to offer enhanced security, comprehensive services and take advantage of shared resources. The study recommended utilization of the 1912 Probate and Family Court / Registry of Deeds building for the Probate and Family Court and construction of a new building (approximately 190,000 SF) that will contain all of the other court departments â Superior, District, Housing and Juvenile Courts.
Funding for the $106 million project was approved in the spring of 2005 and announced during a visit to Salem by Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey in July, allowing DCAM to proceed with hiring a designer and conducting a detailed building study. Architects Goody, Clancy & Associates â who bring experience working with historic preservation, courthouses in historic areas, and direct experience in Salem - came on board in June 2005, and are developing building layouts, working through siting issues and adjustments due to budgetary constraints. This will be a landmark building for Salem, taking special care to respect the historic streetscape, scale and context of the area, identified as a major concern of Salem preservation organizations and community groups. DCAM has finalizedtraffic investigations and has acquired the threeprivate homes and the chuch on the site. The study has been certified and the courts complex project is scheduled to begin in late fall 2007 or early spring 2008.
The Salem Partnership is taking an active role in promoting this project, and is represented on a Citizen’s Steering Committee put together by DCAM for the purpose of input and involvement with community leaders.
© 2007 The Salem Partnership
Site created and maintained by Net Atlantic Inc.