Future Of Salem's Bridge Street Neck Neighborhood Up For Debate

Salem MA

17 August, 2021

11:19 AM

Description

SALEM, MA — As the Bridge Street Neck evolves, neighbors and city officials are looking for public input to understand the best course to the future for the historic neighborhood. There will be virtual public forums on Aug. 18 and Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. to discuss an updated vision for the area of Salem's original settlement The draft zoning regulates what can be built, the design, and the kind of uses allowed. The focum will solicit opinions on what zoning standards should be in place to make sure they are consistent with what is desired for the neighborhood. All Bridge Street Neck stakeholders are invited to participate in the forums, which will be identical. Stakeholders can register for the Aug. 18 forum here and the Aug. 26 forum here. In 2019, neighbors and the City worked with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council to bring a fresh lens to the Bridge Street Neck corridor. The associated principles of the vision for the future of the neighborhood include: A family-friendly area that is both welcoming and affordable across a range of incomes. A neighborhood that is safe and comfortable for all ages and abilities to walk and bike. A thriving Bridge Street filled with local businesses in commercial and mixed-use developments. A distinct sense of place that builds upon the neighborhood's history as the location of the original settlement of Salem and existing assets related to its later commercial and residential history. Development that has high-quality design and is appropriate for the scale and context of the neighborhood. Connections to non-vehicular travel, not only within the neighborhood but to other parts of Salem, as well More information on the Bridge Street Neck Zoning Overlay can be found here. Did you find this article useful? Invite a friend to subscribe to Patch. (Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)