An unremarkable stretch of road from downtown Peabody to Salem is being looked at for revitalization.
And a partnership between both communities may be the impetus for change.
The mile from Main Street at Peabody Square through the end of Salem's Boston Street is dotted by an eclectic mix of consignment shops, restaurants, historic homes, strip malls and commercial businesses — including a gun shop and auto body repair shop.
Into the mix are scattered unused, overgrown properties like the former Flynntan building and empty lots in Peabody.
With a $20,000 grant, regional agency Metropolitan Area Planning Council is working with Salem and Peabody to help devise a plan for the road.
Last week, MAPC coordinators made their first presentation to about 60 residents and business owners. They led discussions about the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for the area, said Jenn Chin, MAPC communications coordinator.
Those who attended asked for better signs along the street and more green space, too, Chin said. People especially wanted to preserve the feel of the area.
"The big thing for us is maintaining the integrity of Boston Street, what's historical on this street," said Salem resident Jim Moskovis, who's lived in the area for 25 years.
If and when a development replaces Flynntan, for example, neighbors asked that it not tower over the landscape.
"We understand newer things have to come into the area," he said. "We want to see nice things happen to this area, not like (Route) 114, but a friendly, accessible area with homes and that type of stuff."
Residents and business owners along the corridor hope to see improvements that would streamline traffic, spruce up the area with historic lighting and not only improve sidewalks but make the area welcome and safer for pedestrians.
Upgrades should also benefit business, Moskovis said.
"We'd like to see them prosper and grow," he said.
Dina Ferrara's family has owned Furtado Hardware on Peabody's Main Street for 26 years. The recent arrival of the CVS across the street has helped transformed the once vacant lot directly across from their store.
She said the area immediately around the hardware store often seems neglected, but she's hard pressed to suggest ways to make it better.
"Once they get to McDonald's, they sort of forget everybody else," she said.
At least the traffic needs to be tamed. Ferrara said the intersection directly in front of the store — where Howley Street dead ends onto Main and Boston streets — is prone to accidents.
"There are a lot of close calls, a lot of accidents," she said. "You can hear the tires screech."
MAPC will also conduct two site visits in coming months before producing its final report in December, Chin said.
Both communities will have to wait to see the agency's recommendations before deciding how to make the upgrades, said Peabody Assistant Planning Director Blair Haney.
"People definitely want to see some improvement," he said. "That was encouraging."
Haney said it's common for reports like the one expected from MAPC to offer different levels of action items for the short, middle and long-term.
"I think a lot them are going to be simple retrofits," he said. "Some of them are probably large-scale projects. It will be a matter of the two communities looking at what the priorities are."
Until then, it will be just a little longer for area residents.
"We'll see what we can implement when it all comes out," Haney said.
Moskovis said he and his neighbors have waited patiently.
"I think that (city leaders) had priorities that they needed to go to," he said. "Now, it's our turn."
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