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Candidates split on Prime Group plan for Shetland Park, citing size, affordability and landlord concerns
Summary
At a Sept. forum for Salem Ward 1 and Ward 5 city council candidates, speakers debated Prime Group’s proposal to redevelop Shetland Park under a 40R-style zoning overlay. Supporters cited new parks, school investment and flood mitigation; critics warned of scale, displacement, landlord behavior and traffic impacts.
At a candidates’ forum for Salem’s Ward 1 and Ward 5, several candidates discussed Prime Group’s proposed redevelopment of Shetland Park and a zoning overlay the developer is seeking. Candidates said the project could open waterfront parkland and provide a new school building but raised consistent concerns about the proposal’s scale, the share of affordable units and the developer’s track record as a landlord.
Why it matters: The 40R-style smart-growth overlay the developer is seeking would shape permitted uses and density at a waterfront site that candidates said is underused now; a large project could reshape housing costs, neighborhood jobs and traffic patterns in the Point neighborhood.
Many candidates praised elements of the plan. Ward 1 candidate Walter Morrell said the project’s waterfront open space and a new school facility were “huge pluses.” Ward 1 candidate Aaron Taraske said a large developer stepping forward could fund flood mitigation the city otherwise may not be able to afford. Ward 5 candidate John Hunt said the site is “underutilized” and that community discussion about what should replace the parking lot is appropriate.
At the same time, multiple candidates warned the plan as described was too large and that the affordability provisions were insufficient. Ward 1 Councilor and candidate Cindy Jerslow said the proposal “is too large for the area” and urged more community input. Candidates noted the current plan includes about 1,200 units, which several speakers said would put pressure on neighborhood rents and services.
Several candidates also raised concerns about Prime Group’s landlord practices. Ward 1 Councilor Jerslow and Ward 5 candidate Zachary Calderon said nonprofits leasing space in Shetland Park reported rent increases; Calderon said Prime Group raised nonprofit rents by “$5 a square foot.” Ward 5 candidate Frederick Norton said nonprofits and employers on the site could be displaced and that the current plans do not preserve the property’s industrial capacity.
Traffic, services and displacement were recurring topics. Jerslow and others said the Point neighborhood already experiences congestion; multiple speakers said the project needs stronger transit connections, such as shuttle service to the commuter rail. Norton warned the project would eliminate larger employers on the site and would not retain truck access for industrial employers. Several candidates said a community benefits agreement and stronger community engagement would be necessary before the council considered overlay zoning.
No vote or formal council action occurred at the forum. Candidates encouraged residents to attend a community meeting on Sept. 30 hosted by North Shore CDC to continue public discussion.
Sources and context: The discussion at the forum focused on the overlay proposal and related issues; candidates referenced the number of proposed units, the overlay request and meetings between councilors and the developer. The forum organizers collected public questions in advance and published candidate responses after the event.
What’s next: Candidates said the city should insist on more detailed community input and stronger affordability commitments before approving overlay zoning; they urged residents to attend upcoming community meetings to influence design and benefits.
