City of Salem Receives Two Grants from Massachusetts Historical Commission

Mayor Kim Driscoll is pleased to announce that the City has received two Survey and Planning Grants from the Massachusetts Historical Commission. The first grant will enable the City to hire a consultant to survey and document historic buildings within downtown Salem, while the second grant will allow the City to expand its historic preservation planner position from its current part-time status to a full-time staff position. The Survey and Planning Grant program supports historic preservation planning activities in communities throughout Massachusetts.  

“We are very grateful for the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s continued support of preservation activities in Salem,” said Mayor Driscoll. “These two grants, totaling more than $37,000, will help the City and our preservation partners fulfill many of the recommendations set forth in the recently-completed Salem Historic Preservation Plan.”

The downtown survey project will provide the Salem Historical Commission and the Salem Redevelopment Authority with a more thorough historic and architectural context when reviewing new development projects in the downtown to ensure that the area’s impressive collection of historic buildings is preserved.  

The expansion of the preservation planner position to full-time will allow the City to strengthen its commitment to promoting and preserving Salem’s historic assets city-wide through activities such as the development of a “Preserving Salem” website, hosting educational activities during National Preservation Month each May, and working closely with residents, neighborhood groups, local officials, and historic property owners to promote further recognition and protection of historic neighborhoods and at-risk resources in the city.