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North River Canal Corridor - VisionNEIGHBORHOOD MASTER PLAN FOR THE NORTH RIVER CANAL CORRIDOR A new waterfront pathway along the River will not only connect the northern neighbor- hoods to the MBTA Station and downtown, but will enhance the character and access to the waterfront. The redevelopment of the Flynntan Site and Bridge Street Parcels offer the opportunity to create an Urban Village setting and gateway to downtown.Villa g e Gatew a y MBTA Station Bike P at h City of Salem Department of Planning and Community Development Goody, Clancy & Associates 2003 Salem was settled by English colonists 375 years ago along the banks of the North River. Today, the North River Canal Corridor area is a diverse district with a mix of commercial, residential, and industrial uses adjacent to vibrant residential neighborhoods. This important area is also the main entrance cor- ridor into the city and commuter gateway to the downtown. However, the river, the railroad, and industrial development have created a barrier to the downtown. Future development should reconnect this area creating a mix- ture of compatible uses that expand upon the urban character of the city. Its strategic location offers the opportunity to reconnect the diverse neighbor- hoods that surround it and take advantage of the available building stock, vacant parcels, unique open space system, and waterfront access. This important area deserves thoughtful development worthy of the rich neigh- borhood tradition of Salem. —Introduction from Vision Statement prepared by North River Canal Corridor Working Group The rich history of the North River Canal should be celebrated and interpreted through signage and venues placed throughout the park. Improved access, maintenance, and the redevelopment of mill buildings will transform and strengthen the identity of Leslie’s Retreat Park. Create an “Urban Village” and “Gateway” to Downtown at Bridge Street and Boston Street •Create a strong “Urban Village” and “Gateway” at the intersection of Bridge and Boston Streets •Improve sidewalks and the pedestrian environment on four corners of Bridge and Boston Streets •Include a landmark building at the SE corner of Bridge and Boston – Seek active ground floor uses; commercial, office lobbies and entrances, etc. •Attract uses that serve local markets and are complementary to existing businesses •Provide sensitive transitions in scale toward the Federal Street neighborhood – Reduce building heights – Provide landscaped buffers •Place new buildings close to the street •Support improvements to existing properties – Improved signage, parking and additional landscaping •Explore potential for a shared-use parking between uses with different peak needs •Enhance corner of Flint and Bridge – Explore additional development at the rear of the Church •Improve the edges of Bridge Street and canal – Seek public-private partnerships for maintenance – Replace chain-link with visually attractive fence – Explore long term expansion of Park on north side of canal from Flint to Grove •Provide a “free-right” turn from Boston onto Goodhue Strengthen Leslie's Retreat Park as a neighborhood amenity Strengthen character and identity of the park and surround- ing streets—connect park to surrounding neighborhoods •Build program into the park – Work with City and other organizations to develop events, program, etc to activate the park and its edges – Children's Playscape areas – Historic interpretive features – Artists exhibition areas •Improve access and safety – Create two new pedestrian access points at Bridge St. – Include safety measures at the edge of the canal to pre- vent people from falling in – Seek additional pedestrian bridge over canal to directly link Downtown and Mason Street •Improve Park Image – Solve park drainage problems – Work with Mass Highway and City to ensure design of Bridge St. complements the park edge and provides adequate pedestrian connections and landscaping – Develop park clean-up programs and build relationships with surrounding owners Strengthen identity of Bridge Street and the Park Edges •Redefine Bridge Street as an attractive 4-lane street – Include quality sidewalks and well land- scaped areas on both sides of the street – Consider off-peak parking along park edge – Coordinate with Mass Highway and Court Study •Improve pedestrian connections and access to Leslie’s Retreat Park – Pedestrian Bridge at the end of Lynn Street – An grade crossing near new eastern entrance •Promote residential redevelopment in scale and character with the historic neighborhood •Remove rail storage – Enhance views and image of park •Support improvements to existing properties – Signage, parking and additional landscaping •Consider artists live-work housing at the Webb building Provide enhanced pedestrian access to and through the MBTA station site; enhance the site’s waterfront edge •Improve waters edge and forge connec- tions to Downtown, Franklin Street and Leslie's Retreat park—Trees, sidewalks, lighting, benches, plazas, etc – Coordinate with Guilford's removal of spur line for expanded service to Danvers •Promote ground level uses within the proposed parking structure to activate the water’s edge •Visually enhance the parking structure by potentially including; Banners, articulated building mass, expressive stair towers, etc. •Restore Leslie's Retreat Plaque. – Work with local historian and stake holders to identify appropriate new loca- tion for plaque. •Relocate existing MBTA at grade crossing west of North Street Make connections, places and unlock redevelopment—North of Bridge Street •Redevelop FlynTan – 2-4 stories tall, oriented towards Boston Street – Preserve view corridors through the site towards the canal •Extend Hanson street to improve vehicular access – Coordinate with City RFP for redevelopment of Flynntan •Promote long term waterfront access along the Canal – Coordinate with the redevelopment of Goodhue parcels •Improve image of Canal edges – Replace chain-link with quality fencing—include trees, widen sidewalks, etc •Create a new square at the intersection of Hanson St, Goodhue St, and Grove St. Extend Commercial Street to Flint Street— Connect Mason Street neighborhood to park •Extend access from Mason Street to canal edge—at key locations – Seek opportunities for short-term pedestrian access – Seek long-term solutions as properties redevelop – Extend Commercial Street to Flint – Work with existing property owners to provide replacement parking •Consider redeveloping the Salem Suede site for housing and commercial needs – Seek maintaining portions of the historic industrial structures •Improve and maintain views from neighborhood to canal •Reuse and redevelop industrial uses—transition new development from Mason to Commercial •Enhance residential character and streetscape along Mason – Work with neighborhood to promote reinvestment including; new lawns, fences, façade improvements, and landscaping •Enhance Canal edge – Develop public private partnership to provide enhanced maintenence trees, sidewalks, benches, etc. •Seek opportunities for arts-related uses Improve identity, waterfront access and connections along Franklin Street •Support reuse/rehab that includes commercial/low density housing/ open space/recreation that is in scale with the surrounding neighborhood •Support existing uses and upgrade buildings north of Franklin •Restructure the North/Franklin Street intersection—resolve pedestrian access and safety issues; add pedestrian signal at intersection – Coordinate with North Street Corridor Study – Resolve connecting Commercial to Bridge (west of North Street) – Coordinate efforts with MBTA Study •Improve pedestrian access along riverfront—independent of redevelopment efforts •Connect Franklin Street to the MBTA—a quality pedestrian pathway •Improve streetscape and sidewalks along both sides of Franklin Street and Furlong Park •Seek opportunities to incorporate water-dependant uses —pursue efforts to clean up North River •Expand playfields of Furlong Park A range of programmed activities and artful park structures could be developed to attract people of all ages and backgrounds. New development should be sensitive to the scale and character of the surrounding neighborhoods. The reconstruction of Bridge Street offers the opportunity to create a well landscaped, quali- ty road that will improve the identity of the corridor and enhance the edges of the park. H A N S O N GRO VE BRIDGETREMONTDUNLAPBARSTOW BARRBUFFUMNORTHFRANKLINFurlong Park WASHINGTONNORTHESSEX FEDERALFLINTBO S TON BRIDGE Mack Park Leslie’s Retreat Park M A SO N COMMERCIAL Coordinate with Court Study Existing Residential Webb Building Existing Residential North River PROPOSEDBYPASSROADNORTH RIVER CANAL Flynntan Site Bike Path Bik e P a t h *NOTE: For a full list of recommendations, see Chapter 3. LESLIE’S RETREAT PARKSOUTHWEST SOUTH SOUTHEAST NORTHWEST NORTH NORTHEAST