PROJECT OVERVIEW
Site: Former Salem State University South Campus
Housing: ~475 units
Developer: AvalonBay Communities + WinnCompanies
Parking: Yes
Zoning & Review Process: Chapter 40R Smart Growth District
Forest River Residences is a redevelopment project planned for the former Salem State University South Campus, located along Harrison Road and Loring Avenue.
The site is being redeveloped as part of a Chapter 40R Smart Growth Overlay District, a zoning framework that allows higher-density housing in designated areas. The new zoning district was adopted by the Salem City Council in 2025 and received conditional approval from the state, allowing review of individual projects within the district to proceed. Projects must pass a site plan review and meet the established design and 20-percent affordability standards.
Two proposed projects are being advanced with developers AvalonBay Communities and WinnCompanies. Current plans anticipate the creation of approximately 475 residential units across the site.
The redevelopment concept includes both new construction (AvalonBay) and the adaptive reuse of several existing campus buildings (WinnCompanies). The project is currently moving through site plan review under the design standards established for the district.
WHY IT MATTERS
The redevelopment of the former Salem State South Campus represents a significant change for the surrounding neighborhood and for the city more broadly as Salem continues to evaluate proposals for new housing and redevelopment.
Historic Salem, Inc. (HSI) has engaged in the public planning process for this project, advocating for thoughtful site planning and for the preservation and adaptive reuse of the former St. Chretienne School and Convent buildings. Incorporating historic structures into redevelopment can help maintain continuity within the built environment while reducing unnecessary demolition.
Because the project is being developed under Chapter 40R, if the current proposals meet the district’s established standards, they will move through an expedited approval process. For this reason, the design standards guiding the district play a critical role in shaping how new construction fits within the surrounding neighborhood and Salem’s broader built environment. HSI participated in the development of the overlay district’s design standards to help ensure that redevelopment of the site remains sensitive to Salem’s built environment and surrounding neighborhoods. We continue to monitor the project as it moves through the site plan and design review process.
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