PROJECT OVERVIEW
Site: Former Eagle Iron Foundry site
Developer: AC Hotel by Marriott development team
Program: Hotel with parking garage (~125 rooms)
Review Process: City planning and design review processes
The AC Hotel by Marriott project involves the redevelopment of the former Eagle Iron Foundry site along Canal Street near Salem’s downtown.
The foundry operated on this property for decades and played an important role in the city’s industrial history.
The current project replaces the former industrial structures with a hotel development of approximately 125 guest rooms, along with lobby, bar, and hospitality spaces and a parking garage serving hotel guests.
The project has proceeded through the City of Salem’s planning and design review processes as the site transitions from an industrial property to a hospitality use.
WHY IT MATTERS
The Eagle Iron Foundry site represents an important chapter in Salem’s industrial heritage.
For many years the foundry produced ironwork used in buildings and infrastructure throughout the region, contributing to the city’s economic development during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Redevelopment of the site reflects broader changes in Salem’s economy as former industrial sites transition to new uses. Projects like this raise important questions about how new construction can acknowledge historic industrial uses while contributing to the evolving character of the city.
Historic Salem, Inc. has monitored the redevelopment of the Eagle Iron Foundry property and participated in the public review process. In January, HSI submitted comments reminding the project team and the City of their prior commitment to incorporate interpretive elements or design references that acknowledge the site’s industrial history.
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