Are you wondering what will be built in that now empty lot on Washington Street, across the street from the Post Office?

It is a big project that will really define what that part of downtown Salem looks like.  The project is in the Salem Redevelopment Authority boundary, which means that the project must be reviewed by the Design Review Board.  Three years ago the project went through an intense round of design review.  We recall that the project went through at least four meetings where the Board would give feedback and the architect and developer would return the following month with changes.  The design that was finally approved is appropriately contemporary.  There is a lot of visual interest, with articulation of the windows, balconies, porches and cornice lines.  It looks three dimensional and unique, relating to the shape and slope of the site.

Our city has just made a new year's resolution – As of January 1 we are all now bringing our own bags to the store.  This step forward in our increased awareness of what we are throwing away reminds me of a talk given by my favorite preservation economist (what, you don’t have a favorite?).  In HSI's 2015 “Mightier Than a Wrecking Ball” conference Donovan Rypkema stated the following: