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Most Endangered Historic Resource:
Old Salem News Building, 155-187 Washington
Street (Listed 2001) Status – Still Endangered
January 2008 update:The
City of Salem’s Historic Commission, the Design Review Board and
the Planning Board have been reviewing a proposal by the developer RCG,
LLC for the redevelopment of the downtown block, formerly the Salem
News buildings, at the corner of Washington and New Derby Street. As
expected the developer has received a waiver of demolition delay from
the Historic Commission. The wooden building on the corner of Washington
and New Derby Street and the brick printing building behind it have
since been demolished. Plans call for the Central House and Edgewater
Cafe buildings at the Front Street end of the block will be renovated
and updated. The proposal for the new construction to replace the demolished
buildings is generally consistent with the Salem Marketplace Design
Report, in which Historic Salem participated.
Historic Salem is providing design
comment to the Design Review Board and Planning Board for the proposal.
Historic Salem is requesting careful consideration of the site planning,
materials, and details used so that the new construction will complement
and improve upon the
unique character of downtown Salem.
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At present (2006), the Colonial Revival brick structure at the corner
of Washington and Front Streets and a small part of the wooden structure
are the only occupied portion of this historic building complex.
The wooden part of the so-called Salem Evening News block, also previously
known as the Arrington Block, apparently dates from 1874. The block
is included in the Downtown Salem National Register District as a building
of central importance to the district, and is described in the nomination
as “the last wood-frame structure to survive in downtown Salem,
and as such is an important reminder of the City’s former appearance.”
It is also worth noting that the Salem Evening News buildings were considered
historically significant enough that in 1993 the City of Salem received
a Preservation Façade Easement that protected the exterior of
the building in exchange for a low interest loan. The façade
easement ran for a period of 10 years and has expired.
The development proposal announced in March 2006 by RCG to develop the
Salem News Block, Delande’s, the City parking lot abutting these
properties and Salem’s Market Square moved the Salem News Block
from Signs of Improvement to Endangered.
As described in the Sense of Scale update, the Marketplace Task Force
Plan stands as a blueprint for future phased development on that block.
The plan calls for retaining and incorporating the historic fabric on
the site, including the Salem News Building and Delande’s.
After the publication of the Marketplace Task Force report, RCG chose
not to proceed with general Marketplace development. During the fall
of 2006, RCG expressed interest in developing the Salem News parcels
independently of the broader Marketplace project. At year end, RCG was
reported to have decided not to proceed with the Salem News Building
development, and the Building was reported to be for sale. The owners
of Delande’s have announced plans for investment in their property,
once Salem’s Post Office.
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