Salem To Close Parking Lot Ahead Of 'Exchange' Development

SALEM, MA — Salem residents and visitors who use the Crescent Lot on Bridge Street will have to look for alternatives by the end of the month as the city closes the parking lot as part of the construction process for the new 115-unit, mixed-use "The Exchange" development.

As of Dec. 22, WinnDevelopment and its contractor, Windover Construction, will take over the entirety of the parking lot to begin pre-development work.

Windover will prepare the site for the project, construct a new outfall into the North River, lay the groundwork for concrete placements for retaining walls, footings, the elevator slab, and bring utilities from Bridge Street into the site.

Winn will then complete the purchase of the 32-34 Federal Street property — the Superior Courthouse and County Commissioners building — from the Salem Redevelopment Authority and begin construction of "The Exchange."

The first phase of the courthouse project will consist of the full exterior restoration of both buildings, the interior restoration of a portion of the Superior Court, including the Law Library, and the construction of 14 residential units in the County Commissioners Building.

The construction of The Exchange and the project at the historic courthouses are set for a two-year construction timeline, anticipated for both properties.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)