​December 21, 2022
 
Mr. Paul Durand, Chair
Design Review Board
98 Washington Street
Salem, MA 01970
 
 
Dear Mr. Durand,
 
Historic Salem has been following and commenting on the 301 Essex Street project for more than six months as it has been considered at the SRA and now at the DRB.  We supported an earlier version of the design that drew on and related to the historic context of the adjacent properties. 
 
We believed that the initial design proposal was an excellent response to the historic urban fabric at this important downtown corner. The Summer Street façade acknowledged the direct connection to the adjacent Salem Inn building (ca. 1834) both with height, window treatment and the continued use of brick. At the same time, the design of the Essex Street façade accomplished several things. It acknowledged the urban streetscape of downtown Salem with an urban height, materials and window pattern and in doing so it continued consistent structural lines from the first floor up through the façade. Most importantly, it also celebrated this key corner by wrapping the curtain wall around the corner before connecting with the more residential, punched openings along Summer Street. Altogether, the earlier version was a sophisticated design that was compatible with our historic downtown without imitating historic architecture.
 
In the new proposed design options, the curtain wall may be appropriate for the Essex Street façade and the downtown street wall. by referencing the existing bays found in the original street front. However, the curtain wall design is not respectful of the residential nature of the facing neighborhood and particularly of the 1834 Salem Inn building, over which it physically looms.
 
On the other hand, the proposed punched opening option has an appropriate residential feel adjacent to the Salem Inn, but it lacks connection with the original building elements and is underwhelming and dull along Essex Street.
 
Neither of the new options is appropriate as a single concept for the entire building and both options neglect the celebration of the corner and the opportunity to contribute to the Salem architectural landscape at this key location. 
 
It seems clear to us that a potential solution is to again wrap the curtain wall around the corner and then take great care to refine the bays, spacing, and details to create an overall composition that references the existing building’s past but is clearly a part of contemporary architecture.
 
Thank you for considering these comments and we look forward to the discussion at the meeting.
 
Respectfully,
 

Emily Udy
Preservation Manager