The Salem Partnership has been a long-time supporter of the Salem Trial Courts project, recognizing the importance of maintaining the courts presence as an integral part of downtown Salem, both from a civic standpoint and as a contributor to the economic vitality of the city. This project, currently underway with the Division of Capital Asset Management, will create a new state-of-the-art facility, which will serve the community and present an architecturally exciting gateway into Salem.
DCAM concluded work on a preliminary study in 2004, which proposed creating a “courts campus” to bring together different court departments in order to offer enhanced security, comprehensive services and take advantage of shared resources. The study recommended utilization of the 1912 Probate and Family Court / Registry of Deeds building for the Probate and Family Court and construction of a new building (approximately 190,000 SF) that will contain all of the other court departments - Superior, District, Housing and Juvenile Courts.
Funding for the $106 million project was approved in the spring of 2005. This allowed DCAM to proceed with hiring a designer and conducting a detailed building study. Architects Goody, Clancy & Associates, who bring experience working with historic preservation, courthouses in historic areas, and direct experience in Salem - came on board in June 2005. This will be a landmark building for Salem, taking special care to respect the historic streetscape, scale and context of the area, identified as a major concern of Salem preservation organizations and community groups.
DCAM created a Citizens Steering Committee to keep the Salem Community abreast of the process. An MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) was signed with the Massachusetts Historical Commission in April 2008, and numerous public meetings were held to solicit input and hear concerns about traffic issues and design.
To date:
- Three houses as well as the Baptist Church have been removed to provide space for the new courthouse and the Law Library.
- All necessary highway improvements have been complete.
- The original Baptist Church has been moved to its new site and will serve as the new law library.
- Restoration of the law library is underway. Staging has been erected around the exterior of the building and the roofing contractor is removing the asphalt shingles. Extensive masonry restoration of the exterior walls is about to begin. Much of the brick facade is "repointed" and the front entrance doors will be replaced and/or repaired. A contractor has been working on restoring the windows and painting and plastering contractors have been engaged to restore the interior of the building.
- Much of the exterior work is completed. The majority of the ongoing work is inside. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing contractors are "roughing in" their respective systems. The finishing contractor, the acoustical ceiling contractor and the painting contractor are installing partitions, gypsum drywall, ceiling grid, and the prime coat of paint on walls. Much of this work is complete in the Juvenile Wing and ongoing in the main courthouse.
- $72 million has been named in a bond bill passed by the legislature for the renovation of the Probate and Family Court. While this project is not yet funded, when funds are appropriated, it will complete the upgrade of all the court facilities in Salem. Also, reuse of the Superior Court, The County Commisions Building, and the District Court is also being considered.
- The New Court Complex construction is on budget and on schedule. The anticipated completion date is June 2011.