This letter was submitted to the City of Salem Department of Public Service in regards to the planned bollards and construction work in front of Ropes Mansion.
___________________________
April 22, 2025
Mr. Raymond Jodoin
Director, Department of Public Services
City of Salem
93 Washington Street
Salem, MA 01970
Dear Ray:
Thank you for attending the site visit today to discuss the proposed modifications to the road and sidewalks at Essex and Cambridge Streets in front of the Ropes Mansion. As you learned, neighbors who live with the large crowds of tourists in the area are concerned with creating a safe environment for all but also preserving the beauty and value of their properties. The city and the community must work together to find a solution that works for all. This will require more face-to-face meetings.
Outstanding items that still need to be resolved include:
- Any bollards used outside of the Ropes Mansion should be Historic McIntire District posts. The steel black reproductions shown as part of the project attachments do not do justice to the importance of the Ropes Mansion or the surrounding historic properties. Plastic sleeves are unacceptable. Iron or granite posts are a must.
- McIntire District sidewalk inserts (e.g., corner of Cambridge and Essex Streets) should remain in place or be reset to their proper place.
- HSI has advocated for the repair of the brick sidewalks and curbing on Cambridge Street between Chestnut and Essex Streets. This would be an appropriate time to do this work and be an accommodation to the neighbors who are forced to endure the tourist traffic in the area.
If the project is to continue, a few key points that we believe have been made to the original plans need to be confirmed:
- The pattern of the proposed brick work in front of the Ropes Mansion as well as the corner sidewalks at Essex and Cambridge Streets will be done in the same pattern as the existing sidewalk; the diagonal pattern shown on the plans is incorrect.
- Brick will be used for all the ADA mobility ramps so they will be compatible with the surrounding brick sidewalks. The ramps will be like those constructed in Salem’s historic districts at Grace Church, Salem Public Library, and along Derby Street.
- The hitching post outside of 329 Essex Street will remain in place as well as the carriage step which should also remain in place and not be sloped.
A major concern is whether the proposed changes will help manage the crowds. Namely, the additional open space will instead allow more tourists to linger and the many walking tours to use it as an opportunity to gather their groups. Last year, people did not honor the temporary bollards and just stood beyond them in the street. Additional consideration should be given to Salem Police Department details during the peak times during the height of the tourist season to control the crowds.
Again, we support efforts for a safe viewing area for the Ropes Mansion, but this should not be provided at the expense of the historic fabric and character of the Mansion or surrounding year-round historic residential properties. More face-to-face dialogue must take place to reach a solution that meets the needs of the city AND the abutters. While this might delay the project, experience has shown that it is time well spent in creating the best long-term solution that works for all.
Best regards,
Richard Lindeman
President
cc:
Dominick Pangallo, Mayor, City of Salem
Caroline Watson-Felt, Ward 2 City Councillor
Vijay Joyce, Chair, Salem Historical Commission
Colleen Brewster, Co-Chair, HSI Brick Committee
Cynthia Johnson, Co-Chair, HSI Brick Committee
