More new construction is coming to Salem, MA. A 130 unit apartment complex known as Riverview Place is planned on a four acre parcel consisting of 69-71 Mason St, the Bonfanti Leather factory, which was purchased for $750,000 and 72 Flint St, the site of the Salem Suede factory, which was purchased this past spring for $2.1 million.
The Salem Suede factory has already been demolited and clean up of the site has begun. The City of Salem finally granted the developers a demolition permit for the Bonfanti Leather factory. Construction of the Riverview Apartments is expected to begin next year after the remaining necessary permits are obtained.
Leather factory to be razed
One of the city's last leather factories is coming down to make way for an apartment complex along the North River canal.
The developers of Riverview Place, a 130-apartment project that began five years ago, have been issued a demolition permit for the Bonfanti leather factory, 69-71 Mason St., and an adjacent multifamily house.
The developer, Riverview Place LLC, bought the two properties recently for $750,000, according to records at the Southern Essex Registry of Deeds.
Last week, the Salem Historical Commission agreed to waive the city's demolition delay order, which applies to buildings more than 50 years old, clearing the way for demolition. The board granted the waiver with the stipulation that photos and other records be made of the Bonfanti building.
At one point, Historic Salem Inc., a private preservation group, had listed the Bonfanti factory among a group of North River industrial buildings on its "most endangered" list. The North River, stretching into Peabody, was once lined with tanneries.
This factory building was in operation, or at least partial use, until a few weeks ago, according to the developers' attorney.
Demolition is expected to take place within the next 30 days.
The developers, Mike O'Brien and Dave Walsh, pushed to get the work done now while crews and heavy equipment are on the site for an environmental cleanup.
The Salem Suede factory, 72 Flint St., came down months ago. Currently, workers are remediating the site, which is adjacent to Bonfanti leather.
"The reason it was relatively urgent to get the Bonfanti building down is so that the cleanup of the site could proceed simultaneously with the cleanup of the Salem Suede site," said the developers' attorney, Scott Grover.
It will mean a significant cost savings to get all the work done at once, Grover said.
The Salem Suede property sold this spring for $2.1 million, according to records at the Registry of Deeds.
The entire 4-acre parcel is the site of the Riverview complex, a series of buildings housing one- and two-bedroom apartments.
The Salem Suede cleanup, which is expected to cost about $250,000, began a few weeks ago.
Construction of Riverview Place is not expected to begin until next year. The developers have secured most local permits and survived a court fight, but they still await a Chapter 91 state waterways license and approval from the Conservation Commission.
"The project is moving," Grover said.
