PROJECT OVERVIEW
Developer: Beacon Communities
Partner: Soldier On
Program: Adaptive reuse of the historic church with permanent supportive housing for veterans and space for the church congregation
Review Process: Salem Redevelopment Authority, Design Review Board, Planning Board, and historic review processes
The Tabernacle Church project proposes the adaptive reuse and restoration of the historic church property at 50 Washington Street in downtown Salem.
The current church building, dating to 1925 and the third building on the site, is a prominent landmark along Washington Street.
Current plans call for the restoration of the church building, the continued presence of the congregation on site, and the creation of permanent supportive affordable housing for veterans. The project is being advanced by Beacon Communities in partnership with Soldier On. Early project materials described 46 studio units, while more recent city review materials indicate the proposal now includes 48 studios.
The proposal includes two additions to the existing structure—one along Federal Street and one along Lynde Street—to support the residential program and related common spaces. Plans also include restoration of the church’s exterior envelope, including the facade, roof, windows, and steeple, while retaining portions of the sanctuary and other areas for ongoing congregational use.
Recent project revisions moved the design away from an earlier flat-roofed treatment toward additions with pitched roofs and dormers, reflecting a more contextual approach to the streetscape. The existing church structure and steeple are expected to be restored and maintained, and the congregation will continue to occupy a portion of the building.
WHY IT MATTERS
Tabernacle Church is one of Salem’s most visible religious buildings.
Its continued preservation presents an important opportunity to maintain a major landmark within the city’s historic downtown while adapting the property to meet contemporary needs.
Historic Salem, Inc. (HSI) has followed the project as an example of how a historic institutional building can be reused while preserving defining architectural features. HSI has paid particular attention to the treatment of the church exterior, the design of the additions, and the relationship between the new construction and the surrounding neighborhood.
The project introduces a substantial residential program onto a constrained downtown site. As the proposal has evolved, HSI has paid particular attention to the scale of the additions, the treatment of the church exterior, and the relationship between the new construction and the surrounding neighborhood.
As the project continues through City review, HSI remains engaged in monitoring how the final design and density will affect the long-term preservation and use of this important Salem landmark.
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