SALEM, MA — State and local officials joined development partners at Salem State University to mark the groundbreaking for a housing redevelopment on the university's former South Campus that is expected to bring 473 new rental homes to the city.
The project will redevelop about 23 acres of surplus state-owned land along Harrison Road and Loring Avenue in two phases. The work is part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration's State Land for Homes initiative, which focuses on turning surplus and underused public property into housing across Massachusetts.
"Today's groundbreaking is another important step in our work to build more homes and lower housing costs across Massachusetts," Gov. Maura Healey said. "We're putting state-owned land to work to create nearly 500 new homes in Salem while supporting the future of Salem State.
"This is exactly the kind of partnership we need to build the housing our communities need and make Massachusetts more affordable."
Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll called the project an example of what the state initiative is meant to do.
"As a former mayor of Salem and a proud Salem State alum, I know what this campus means to the community," Driscoll said. "This redevelopment will create hundreds of new homes, support Salem State's future and make productive use of land that has served generations of students."
The first phase, Avalon Salem, is planned to include 340 rental homes. Twenty percent of those units will be available to households with incomes at or below 80 percent Area Median Income and at or below 60 percent AMI.
Construction is anticipated to begin this winter.
The second phase, WinnDevelopment's Forest River Residences, is expected to add at least 133 more homes on the former South Campus. A minimum of 40 percent of those units will be affordable to households with incomes at or below 60 percent AMI, and the phase is expected to close in 2028.
The redevelopment is tied to Salem State University's long-term campus plans. Proceeds from the sale of the South Campus property will support capital investments on the university's North Campus through SSU BOLD, an effort to consolidate the campus footprint and address infrastructure needs.
"Today's event marks another exciting day for Salem State University, and an exciting day for the city of Salem and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts," said Salem State University President John Keenan. "With the help of our partners at DCAMM and with the leadership and support of the Massachusetts legislature, we are the first public campus in the state to surplus a major parcel, allowing the city of Salem to meet its housing needs while also allowing the university to reinvest the sale proceeds in more strategic and much-needed campus infrastructure projects."
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