Salem, Mass. — City officials in Salem have approved plans to redevelop part of Salem State University into a 340-unit apartment complex, marking a significant step in the university’s long-term campus consolidation strategy, according to reporting by the Boston Business Journal.
As reported by BBJ, the project will transform the university’s south campus into a residential development led by AvalonBay Communities and Winn Development Company. The approval, granted in late April, clears the way for construction to begin as early as this summer.
The redevelopment is part of Salem State’s broader “SSU Bold” plan, first announced in 2025, which calls for consolidating all academic programs onto the university’s north campus by fall 2027. According to BBJ, the sale of the south campus is expected to relieve the university of more than $50 million in deferred maintenance costs while reducing ongoing operational expenses.
BBJ reports that the university will retain ownership of the south campus until the transition is complete, with classes continuing there until all programs are relocated.
Plans submitted to the Salem Planning Board include more than 500 parking spaces across the 23-acre site, according to BBJ. The approved 340 units represent the first phase of a larger redevelopment known as Forest River Residences.
As reported by BBJ, a significant portion of the housing will be delivered through a project called Avalon Salem, a luxury apartment complex planned for the site. A second phase, still pending approval, would add an additional 145 units and include a mix of new construction and reuse of existing campus buildings.
The university entered into a purchase and sale agreement with the developers in 2024. David Gillespie, senior vice president of development at AvalonBay Communities, said the approval represents a key milestone, as quoted by BBJ, following years of collaboration among the developers, the university, city officials, and state agencies.
University officials said the consolidation plan is intended to improve campus cohesion and address longstanding challenges associated with the south campus. In a statement cited by BBJ, officials said the campus had created a sense of isolation for some students and that the sale would allow the university to focus on a more efficient footprint.
The redevelopment effort is also tied to broader sustainability initiatives on the north campus, including a decarbonization project aimed at meeting fossil fuel reduction targets by 2050, as well as planned building renovations, BBJ reported.
The final sale price for the south campus has not yet been disclosed and is expected to become public once the transaction is completed, according to BBJ.
