Welcome to the neighborhood!
We are a neighborhood association in historic Salem, Massachusetts
About US
Salem’s downtown business community deserves better
Letter to the editor of The Salem News:
"Having been a downtown business owner for 40 years, I am shocked that the city of Salem lacks the will to move the homeless activity out of the major business district downtown.
My company is Cabot Wealth Management Inc. at 216 Essex St. in Salem. I have reached out to the mayor’s office several times in the last few years and expressed my concern about homeless folks living next to my office on the Shirley Cervoni walkway. I believe the business community downtown deserves better.
"We are all sympathetic towards the homeless population and acknowledge they need help. However, since the city has lacked the will to assist in keeping a clean and healthy downtown, this is clearly driving professional businesses out of downtown Salem. In fact, my company has made the decision to move out of Salem this fall. We have been a taxpaying business in Salem for more than 40 years that has created 17 professional jobs in Salem. We are sorry to leave, but when the safety of our staff and clients require us to lock our doors full-time, there is clearly something wrong.
"Wake up City Hall, you have a problem right behind your office and you fail to acknowledge it."
Rob Lutts, Founder, Cabot Wealth Management, Inc., Salem
published July 30, 2025 in The Salem News
Letter of Conditional Eligibility
The City of Salem received a Letter of Conditional Eligibility, dated June 30, 2025, from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), indicating that the proposed subdistrict is eligible to be a Smart Growth Overlay district—meaning the 40R zoning proposal for the Lifebridge and Harborlight expansion project—following the satisfaction of conditions outlined in the letter. The City is working to address those comments before the subdistrict zoning ordinance is filed with the City Council.
Read the 4-page Letter of Conditional Eligibility, dated June 30, 2025, from EOHLC online.
Citizens for a Better Salem presents: The Lifebridge Expansion Proposal
Salem Access TV (SATV) posted a video to YouTube about the Lifebridge and Harborlight Homes expansion in our neighborhood. It is presented and produced by Citizens For A Better Salem. The 45 minute video is also running on their cable TV channel.
GESNA recommends that you take the time to watch it. Our neighborhood, obviously, figures prominently in it. The video thoroughly explains the project, its issues and implications for our neighborhood and the City, and so much more. Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzuBJEx7Xe0
The 40R Zoning Proposal
Make your voice heard. The Lifebridge/Harborlight expasnsion proposal is estimated to cost $65 million, including taxpayer funds. Tell City Council what you think.
Recap. The 2024 meeting with the Mayor included an overview of the 40R zoning process and public comments. Lifebridge and Harborlight Homes are seeking to override current zoning laws and establish a 40R Growth Overlay District in our neighborhood. A 40R zoning would also be used to develop Salem State’s South Campus, located at 8, 11, 20-32 Harrison Road, and 262 Loring Avenue; and Shetland Park. This type of zoning change requires state approval and a vote to adopt it by the Salem City Council. See the August 1, 2024, slideshow or watch the video on SATV.
City Council Committee of the Whole meeting with Lifebridge and Harborlight on March 10, 2025. Watch the video on SATV:
http://ondemand.satvonline.org/Cablecast/Public/Show.aspx?ChannelID=1&ShowID=34364
The March 2025 meeting is just under 2 hours long. First is a presentation to the Council from Lifebridge President, Jason Etheridge and Harborlight Homes spokesperson Andrew DeFranza. The presentation is followed by a period of questions, answers and commentary from the Council. Lastly, the microphone is opened for public comment, approximately 1hour and 21 minutes into the video.
SEND EMAILS to City Councilors. Their contact information can be found by clicking on their names at this link, see: https://www.salemma.gov/city-council
SEND A COPY OF YOUR COMMENTS to Mayor Pangallo by clicking on this link: https://www.salemma.gov/directory.aspx?EID=254 or write him at:
Salem City Hall, 93 Washington Street, 2nd Floor, Salem MA 01970.
FIND additional materials related to 40R zoning in the GESNA neighborhood:
https://imaginesalem.org/40rsmart-growth-overlay-districts-marginhighendicott
To learn more about about 40R and Smart Growth generally, please see the 40R Strategy page here or contact Elena Eimert, Senior Planner, via email eeimert@salem.com or telephone 978-619-5685.
PRELIMINARY 40R DISTRICT APPLICATION materials, 170-pages, available for download or read online here.
GESNA Salem
The Greater Endicott Street Neighborhood Association (GESNA) of Salem, MA, is a community organization serving as a voice for its residents. The area it serves is roughly south of Norman Street, west of Margin Street, north of Jefferson Avenue, and east of Jackson Street.
Our Neighborhood, Our History
We have a GESNA committee focused on the expansion proposal by Lifebridge North Shore and Harborlight Homes. Lifebridge has a homeless shelter on Margin Street, an "emergency shelter" on Canal Street, and a large thrift shop on Canal Street — all in Salem. Lifebridge has teamed up with Harborlight Homes, a nonprofit housing developer, to propose a large new complex that will radically expand their presence in downtown Salem and change our city forever.
Their proposal would include demolishing the existing shelter on Margin Street and adjacent structures, and building a significantly larger Lifebridge shelter complex plus Harborlight studio apartments for unhoused individuals. Lifebridge’s offices and the thrift shop would also move here.
The project would expand Lifebridge’s footprint to include the entire Margin Street block — including the historic St Mary’s Italian Church — and would extend around the corner onto side streets. It would also expand upward to 4 stories, and possibly 5 stories in some sections.
Grazi! GESNA Heritage Block Party 2024
Thank you, Neighbor! GESNA neighbors enjoyed visiting with friends and meeting new residents at the GESNA Heritage Block Party in 2024, at the High Street Playground. People shared delicious nibbles, relaxed under the tall trees, and listened to the music of Dan Kupka and Brian Donnelly! Grazi to MDF, BF, and JCS, for capturing the day.
Merci to Historic Salem Inc. for hosting a table and their expertise on historical and architectural surveys. Danke for the financial support of the GESNA Steering Committee and members of Our Neighborhood Our History. Stay tuned for our 2025 plans!