
Developer promised public trails to win the old Salem State South Campus, now says they're "not feasible"
Posting because the next hearing is June 16 and not many people seem to know what happened with the old Salem State South Campus (now branded "Forest River Residences").
To win the bid for that public land, the developer (AvalonBay + WinnDevelopment) promised accessible walking trails and overlooks through the Forest River woods. They drew them right on their own site plan, switchbacks and all.
At the May 19 Conservation Commission hearing, their rep told the Commission those same trails are now "not feasible" to build. The land hasn't changed since they drew it. A commissioner called it a bait-and-switch, and the hearing got continued to June 16.
You can see the developer's own site plan next to the RFP language here:
https://salem-forest-river-advocacy.vercel.app
The Commission can still require them to build what they proposed. Showing up or emailing before June 16 is what makes that happen.