5 development projects that could boost the local economy

By Paul Leighton
Staff writer

April 08, 2008 07:44 am

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'Recession' might be the most commonly heard word when it comes to the economy these days. But despite the slowdown, several major projects are in the works around the North Shore.

From a $100 million courthouse in Salem to a new Salisbury "village," these seven developments have the potential to transform their communities.

1. Salem court construction

It has been nearly three years since former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey announced plans to build a new state courthouse on Federal Street. Finally, work is set to begin.

Although major construction of the $106 million J. Michael Ruane Judicial Center won't start until later this year, a lot of preliminary work is ready to go. Three old houses on Federal Street are about to be removed — two will be demolished and one will be moved to a new site. Road work on a new intersection next to the court site also is about to begin.

By late summer, the 200-year-old First Baptist Church, which is on the construction site, will be moved a short distance to the corner of Federal and North streets, where it will become the law library for the new courthouse.

The court complex, which is scheduled to be completed in 2011, is arguably the most important economic development project in the city. There are hundreds of jobs at stake in the courts and at the Southern Essex County Registry of Deeds, and more in the private law, real estate and title examiners offices across the city.

The new mega-courthouse will include superior, district, juvenile and housing courts. The registry of deeds, which has been located inside the Family & Probate Court building next to this site, is moving to Shetland Park, an office complex on the waterfront, and may move back to the District Court building on Washington Street when its lease expires.

There is an additional $60 million earmarked, but not yet approved, in a state bond bill to renovate the Family & Probate Court building. That was part of the original project, but had to be eliminated when costs skyrocketed.

2. Northshore Mall expansion

The Northshore Mall isn't what it used to be.

That's good news for shoppers. The consolidation of department store chains Macy's and Filene's — and the departure of Lord & Taylor — forced owner Simon Property Group to find new anchor tenants and modernize the retail hub into an upscale shopper's haven.

To date, the mall has added restaurant giant the Cheescake Factory, a 40,000-square-foot Filene's Basement and a Macy's Home store. Northshore Mall also upgraded its food court and renovated its entries with classy architectural touches.

By spring 2009, the mall will boast a new, 144,000-square-foot Nordstrom and a 165,000-square foot retail wing leading up to the posh department store.

So polish up those credit cards.

3. Salem bypass road

The $15 million Bridge Street bypass road will open this summer.

"It's about 95 percent complete," said Klark Jessen, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Highway Department.

A state contractor began work two years ago and has built most of the road, which will run from the Veterans Memorial Bridge to downtown Salem. Work paused over the winter, but should start again soon.

"We're intending to go back in the next week or two," said Bob Mabardy, the executive vice president of the Middlesex Corp. of Littleton.

The road is being built to ease the flow of traffic from Beverly to downtown Salem. As an alternate to congested Bridge Street, motorists will be able to take the one-mile road along the North River, reconnecting with Bridge Street near the old Salem Jail.

While the roadway is largely completed, the contractor still has to build sound barriers, complete fencing and landscaping, install traffic signals, erect signs, and do the final paving and lane markings.

"We hope to be completed in August or late summer," said Jessen.

4. Health center expansions

Danvers and Peabody are witnessing a boom of new medical facilities focused on outpatient care.

Northeast Health System completed its $30 million Beverly Hospital at Danvers Medical and Day Surgery Center in November. Located at the foot of the former Danvers State Hospital on Route 62, it includes physicians' offices, a day surgery center, and a variety of specialized centers including breast health, pain management and travel medicine.

The Lahey Clinic at the Northshore Mall is in the midst of a $50 million expansion, adding a three-story wing that will make room for an expanded emergency department, a center on sleep disorders and other specialty programs. The project will also include 15,000 square feet for Children's Hospital Boston, which already has an outpatient program at the clinic. Opening is planned for next spring.

The largest project of the three is the $144 million Mass General/North Shore Center for Outpatient Care on Endicott Street in Danvers. The hospital broke ground in September, and now the steel is up and crews are buttoning up the three-story building, said Jean Graham, a hospital spokeswoman.

The center will include cardiac diagnostics, a day surgery center, and the MGH/North Shore Cancer Center all under one roof. There will also be a medical office building with space for 50 physicians.

This work coincides with $30 million in renovations to Salem Hospital, which is creating private inpatient units and a new, 20-bed intensive care unit.

The new facilities are designed to bring high-quality care to the North Shore, sparing patients the trek to Boston, and boosting the local economy along the way.

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