SALEM — The Salem State campus expanded this week when the college acquired an old industrial facility on Canal Street.
Salem State paid $4.5 million for the former Weir Valves & Controls, a 3.5-acre site directly across from its central campus on Loring Avenue.
In a deal finalized Thursday, the college purchased the property from a real estate entity controlled by Henry Bertolon, the Beverly philanthropist and developer who bought the land and buildings three years ago for the same price on behalf of the college.
The Salem State business school, across from the Weir plant, is named for Bertolon.
The acquisition comes just days after Salem State dedicated Marsh Hall, a new 525-bed residence hall on its central campus. At the time, President Patricia Meservey said Salem State hopes to build more dorms in the future, looking both on its campus and in downtown Salem.
While the college has not announced its long-term plans for the Weir site, another residence hall is a possibility, a college official said.
"My guess is that would be in the mix," said Andrew Soll, vice president of finance and facilities.
Soll stressed, however, that other options are just as likely and that those decisions are years away.
"There are a variety of different options we need to take into consideration — residence hall, academic building, student center, fitness facilities," he said.
He said the college also could enter into public-private partnerships to develop part of the site.
"Certainly more university student housing could be on the table for consideration," he said. "But at this point there's certainly no decision, and I don't know if there's any priority that seems to be rising to the top."
Soll said development of this site "would be a real opportunity ... to create an entry point that would be much more attractive for the city and, hopefully, spur development along the whole Canal Street corridor. We're going to use the next couple of years to look at what the opportunities are. We're not going to rush into anything immediately."
In the meantime, Salem State has been making use of the Weir property, storing library books and furniture there while waiting for a new library to be constructed. The college's shipping and receiving department and mailroom have been relocated here. New rehearsal space for the music department has been built, and more college offices are under way.
When work is completed, Salem State will have spent about $5 million, Soll said.
"I would say for the next two to three years, (the Weir site) is set," he said. "We'll use that time to consider more fully what the long-term needs of the university are. ... We want to be sure we think carefully about the long-term needs of the university ... and the long-term interests of the neighborhood and city."
As part of an agreement, Salem State has been making annual payments of about $65,000 to the city to offset lost taxes from the Weir property.
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
