WHERE DO 2025 CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES STAND ON PRESERVATION?
ZACHARY CALDERON
HSI Mission and New Development
Historic Salem, Inc.’s mission states that “new development complements the historic nature of the city.” How would you interpret this principle, and how would you put it into practice as an elected official? Please also share whether you see value in this approach for Salem’s future.
Historic Salem, Inc.’s mission states that “new development complements the historic nature of the city.” How would you interpret this principle, and how would you put it into practice as an elected official? Please also share whether you see value in this approach for Salem’s future.
I absolutely see value in this approach for Salem’s future. If elected, I will focus on preserving a property’s historic character and significance through practices like retaining and repairing original features, documenting all changes, and maintaining materials to avoid deterioration.
Historic Preservation Priority
Do you believe preserving Salem’s historic buildings, streetscapes, and neighborhoods should be a top priority for the City, equal to other major areas such as housing, public safety, and infrastructure? (Yes/No — brief rationale.)
Do you believe preserving Salem’s historic buildings, streetscapes, and neighborhoods should be a top priority for the City, equal to other major areas such as housing, public safety, and infrastructure? (Yes/No — brief rationale.)
Yes. That being said, I don’t place all of these categories into one hierarchical bucket, but rather in their own individual buckets to be addressed respectively. Too often we are posed questions in an either/or framework rather than a both/and framework. I believe that our identity as a city is rooted in our history, and I do not believe we need to sacrifice our identity to prioritize other issues, and vice versa.
Top Preservation Issue & Action
What is the single most pressing preservation issue in Salem right now, and what specific action would you take in your first year?
What is the single most pressing preservation issue in Salem right now, and what specific action would you take in your first year?
The single most pressing preservation issue in Salem is the climate crisis. Ward 5 has some of the most vulnerable areas in the city, areas such as Palmer Cove Park, Pioneer Terrace, and some homes along the shore. As a member of Salem’s Sustainability, Energy & Resiliency Committee, I work with the city’s Director of Sustainability & Resiliency on the need for berms, seawalls, and other measures to protect buildings and parks. I also supported the adoption of the Specialized Code, which has allowances for historic buildings.
Historic District Oversight
Do you support maintaining or expanding Salem’s historic districts and the Salem Historical Commission’s oversight to ensure changes meet preservation standards? (Yes/No — brief rationale.)
Do you support maintaining or expanding Salem’s historic districts and the Salem Historical Commission’s oversight to ensure changes meet preservation standards? (Yes/No — brief rationale.)
Yes. There are buildings outside the current district that are older than many inside. I also believe the Salem Historical Commission should be part of the process as they decide if buildings are historically significant (or a portion) in their consideration of the demolition waiver, and this applies to all of Salem.
Funding for Preservation
State law requires that at least 10% of CPA funds each year go toward historic resources. In Salem, more than this minimum has typically been allocated. Would you support continuing — or expanding — this level of funding for preservation projects, either through CPA allocations or the City’s capital budget? (Yes/No — please explain.)
State law requires that at least 10% of CPA funds each year go toward historic resources. In Salem, more than this minimum has typically been allocated. Would you support continuing — or expanding — this level of funding for preservation projects, either through CPA allocations or the City’s capital budget? (Yes/No — please explain.)
Yes, although I would want to review the applications as they are approved by the City Council.
Monitoring and Protecting Development
Would you support the creation of additional 40R “Smart Growth Overlay Districts” in Salem, similar to the already approved Margin/High/Endicott Street and Salem State South Campus districts, and the Shetland Park district currently under review? (Yes/No — please explain.)
Would you support the creation of additional 40R “Smart Growth Overlay Districts” in Salem, similar to the already approved Margin/High/Endicott Street and Salem State South Campus districts, and the Shetland Park district currently under review? (Yes/No — please explain.)
Yes. The communication from the developers of the South Campus and Lifebridge/Harborlight projects was respectful of the historic properties, but I am skeptical of the Shetland project as I simply can’t understand the inclusion of a 13 floor hotel, and there isn’t enough info/renderings committed to for the residential portions.
Historic Streetscapes
In Salem’s historic districts, how should the City balance pedestrian safety with preservation of historic streetscapes when installing or replacing bollards and similar fixtures? (Please explain and outline the design/placement criteria you would use.)
Regarding the newly installed bollards at the Ropes Mansion, which option best reflects your position? Retain as installed, Replace with a design more visually compatible with the historic setting, Modify placement/quantity while keeping the current design, or Other (Select one and explain.)
In historic districts and other important historic areas, how would you prioritize sidewalk materials? As a policy preference, do you favor brick over concrete or asphalt? (Yes/No — brief rationale.)
In Salem’s historic districts, how should the City balance pedestrian safety with preservation of historic streetscapes when installing or replacing bollards and similar fixtures? (Please explain and outline the design/placement criteria you would use.)
Regarding the newly installed bollards at the Ropes Mansion, which option best reflects your position? Retain as installed, Replace with a design more visually compatible with the historic setting, Modify placement/quantity while keeping the current design, or Other (Select one and explain.)
In historic districts and other important historic areas, how would you prioritize sidewalk materials? As a policy preference, do you favor brick over concrete or asphalt? (Yes/No — brief rationale.)
In order to best preserve Salem’s historic nature, I would advocate for fixtures that harmonize with the historic streetscape so as to still perform the utilitarian function of keeping pedestrians safe while also not being so jarringly contrast to their surroundings that they stand out. This would mean echoing local historical materials and forms, ensuring that colors match the period, and aligning them as best as possible with gates, fences, windows, and doorways so that they feel intentional rather than ad-hoc afterthoughts.
I support replacing the current fixtures with shorter bollards connected by chains, which would still provide a clear safety barrier while being more visually compatible with the historic character of the Ropes Mansion’s. This approach softens the visual impact while maintaining accessibility and echoing traditional streetscape elements.
Yes, in the sense that we should repair and replace sidewalks with same materials that came before. I also hope to be the Council liaison to the Disabilities Commission and also want to make sure that what we use to repair is accessible to people who use wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, etc.
I support replacing the current fixtures with shorter bollards connected by chains, which would still provide a clear safety barrier while being more visually compatible with the historic character of the Ropes Mansion’s. This approach softens the visual impact while maintaining accessibility and echoing traditional streetscape elements.
Yes, in the sense that we should repair and replace sidewalks with same materials that came before. I also hope to be the Council liaison to the Disabilities Commission and also want to make sure that what we use to repair is accessible to people who use wheelchairs, walkers, strollers, etc.
Shetland Park Redevelopment
What is your position on the current Shetland Park redevelopment proposal, particularly regarding its impact on Salem’s historic waterfront and surrounding neighborhoods? How do you think Salem can balance new development with preserving our city's historic character?
What is your position on the current Shetland Park redevelopment proposal, particularly regarding its impact on Salem’s historic waterfront and surrounding neighborhoods? How do you think Salem can balance new development with preserving our city's historic character?
Unfortunately, Prime has not been transparent or given us enough details. If elected, I would be happy to meet with representatives of Historic Salem, Inc. to learn about what you recommend. This project must not accelerate gentrification and The Point is a historic neighborhood, some of which is in Ward 5, so I want to make sure it reflects the historic nature of the buildings and neighborhood history.
Crescent Lot Development
The city sought out a developer to preserve and rehabilitate the courthouses on Federal Street. To make it more attractive to developers, the city added the crescent lot for commercial development. Winn Development, the winning bidder, is now asking to separate the two projects so they can develop the Crescent Lot independently, without being required to complete the courthouse preservation first. Do you support this change in prioritization? How would you approach holding developers accountable with respect to historic preservation? (Yes/No — please explain.)
The city sought out a developer to preserve and rehabilitate the courthouses on Federal Street. To make it more attractive to developers, the city added the crescent lot for commercial development. Winn Development, the winning bidder, is now asking to separate the two projects so they can develop the Crescent Lot independently, without being required to complete the courthouse preservation first. Do you support this change in prioritization? How would you approach holding developers accountable with respect to historic preservation? (Yes/No — please explain.)
No. I believe in enforcing contracts as agreed upon. If Winn Development wants to separate the two projects, they should at the very least be required to complete the courthouse preservation first. To hold developers accountable with respect to historic preservation, I’d use performance guarantees and mandate financial assurances tied directly to the completion of the preservation component.
26 Winter Street
A request has been made to the ZBA to allow an inn at 26 Winter Street (the Joseph Story house), changing the use from residential to commercial. Do you support this change in use? Please explain the key factors behind your position and your view on the impacts this precedent could set for this historic neighborhood, including the impacts of lost trees and green space to make parking lots on these properties. (Yes/No — please explain.)
A request has been made to the ZBA to allow an inn at 26 Winter Street (the Joseph Story house), changing the use from residential to commercial. Do you support this change in use? Please explain the key factors behind your position and your view on the impacts this precedent could set for this historic neighborhood, including the impacts of lost trees and green space to make parking lots on these properties. (Yes/No — please explain.)
No. Although the application would affect a small amount of the buildings, it would take out the fountain and other historic fixtures. The ZBA suggested the applicant lower the number of units for the inn, but it is unclear whether this is a viable option. As they don’t currently own, I hope they don’t move forward and someone else will purchase and keep as is.