Anyone who went to Salem State knows the South Campus along Loring Avenue. Now that land is headed for a very different future, with nearly 500 new rental homes planned.
On Oct. 2, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll joined state and local officials and the development partners, Vivmark Residential and WinnDevelopment, to celebrate the groundbreaking. According to the state's announcement, the redevelopment will turn about 23 acres of surplus state-owned land along Harrison Road and Loring Avenue into 473 rental homes over two phases. The state describes Vivmark as formerly AvalonBay Communities.
The project is part of the state's State Land for Homes initiative, which is putting surplus and underused public property to work as housing.
"As a former mayor of Salem and a proud Salem State alum, I know what this campus means to the community," Driscoll said. "This redevelopment will create hundreds of new homes, support Salem State's future and make productive use of land that has served generations of students."
Two phases
The first phase, Avalon Salem, will create 340 rental homes. Twenty percent will be set aside for households earning at or below 80% and at or below 60% of the area median income. The state says construction is expected to begin in winter 2026-27.
At an earlier Salem Planning Board hearing, the project team described the building's mix as 35 studios, 150 one-bedrooms, 120 two-bedrooms and 35 three-bedrooms. Parking will be in a garage wrapped by the apartments so residents can park on their own floor. The minutes also describe EV charging spaces in the garage, rooftop HVAC equipment and solar panels on the roof at first construction. The project also includes an extension of Harrison Road, a central landscaped common of about half an acre and a connection to the Forest River Conservation trailhead.
The second phase, WinnDevelopment's Forest River Residences, will add at least 133 homes. At least 40% of those will be affordable to households earning at or below 60% of the area median income. That phase is expected to close in 2028.
"Getting started on Avalon Salem marks an exciting milestone — not just for our development team, but for everyone who helped make this possible," said David Gillespie, senior vice president of development at Vivmark Residential. "We can't wait to bring these first 340 apartment homes to life in one of the North Shore's most vibrant cities."
WinnDevelopment President Adam Stein said the project shows that repurposing underused public property "is a powerful tool for meeting the need for quality, affordable housing."
What Salem State gets
The sale also helps the university. Proceeds from the South Campus will pay for major capital work on Salem State's North Campus as part of SSU BOLD, the university's long-term effort to consolidate its footprint and address infrastructure needs.
"We are the first public campus in the state to surplus a major parcel, allowing the city of Salem to meet its housing needs while also allowing the university to reinvest the sale proceeds in more strategic and much-needed campus infrastructure projects," said Salem State President John Keenan.
DCAMM Commissioner Adam Baacke called the project "a thoughtful strategic partnership that aligns multiple state, local, and campus priorities."
The state says State Land for Homes has advanced plans for more than 5,600 homes in its first year.
The Salem project also follows another state and city deal nearby. In August 2026, the state's Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance and the Salem Redevelopment Authority sold the former Salem Superior Court and County Commissioners buildings at 32-34 Federal Street to WinnDevelopment for redevelopment.
Why it matters for Contractors
A 340-unit building with a wrapped parking garage is a big residential job for the North Shore, and the second phase adds at least 133 more homes. The work also includes a road extension, a landscaped common and a trail connection, so there's site and civil work along with framing, MEP, roofing, solar and finishes. With Avalon Salem's construction expected to start in winter 2026-27, subs should be making contact now. The state's announcement and the city's minutes name the developers and the architectural team, but no general contractor has been named publicly for either phase. Contractors interested in the work should reach out to Vivmark Residential for Avalon Salem and WinnDevelopment for Forest River Residences.