Salem Old Town Hall Renovation Work To Begin Next Week

SALEM, MA — The long-planned renovation of Salem's Old Town Hall is set to begin next week with the initial phase of work to include weather-sealing, exterior restoration and the creation of fully accessible entrances.

Work is set to take place Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Salem Mayor's Office said no substantial noise is expected from the project prior to 8 a.m. and after 5 p.m. each day.

There will be no work scheduled for Sundays.

Work will impact the areas in Derby Square directly adjacent to the Hall, but the pass-through pedestrian access will be maintained at all times. Old Town Hall will remain operational throughout construction.

The first phase of the project is expected to be completed in June.

Planned renovations include:

• Improve existing accessible entrance at north façade doors and sidewalk area.
• Provide accessible entrance to the basement at the southeast corner along the east elevation.
• Repairs to exterior doors for improvements to life safety and egress conditions.
• Provide selective masonry repairs to brickwork and brownstone sills.
• Remove five abandoned grilles at the exterior façade and tooth-in brickwork to match.
• Selective repairs to windows and provide exterior historically appropriate storm windows.
• Upgrades to existing snow guard rails and ice melt system.
• Selective restoration of slate roof
• Restoration of cupola
• Miscellaneous in-kind repairs to exterior and prep/repainting of previously painted wood.

The second phase of the project will focus on the interior and includes structural preservation as well as heating, cooling, fire prevention, accessibility, and acoustical improvements.

It will take several years to secure funding for the second phase, the Salem Mayor's Office said.

(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.)