News Release: 4/29/2026

HISTORIC SALEM, INC. ANNOUNCES FORUM:
The New Urban Fabric: Balancing Growth and Heritage
 
Salem, Mass.- Historic Salem Incorporated (HSI) is pleased to announce a Forum focused on urban planning and historic preservation.  The Forum will be held on Thursday May 14 in the ballroom of the historic Hawthorne Hotel located at 18 Washington Square West, Salem, MA.  The Forum will begin at 7:30pm and will be preceded by a reception featuring hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar from 6:45pm until 7:30pm. 

Urban planning today looks very different than it did even 25 years ago, shaped by shifting demographics and a nationwide housing shortage.  Communities are grappling with an important question: how do we preserve our historic fabric and character while also responding to the pressures of growth?  This conversation will explore the evolving relationship between development and preservation—and what it may mean for the future.

“Balancing the pressure for growth with the desire for preservation of historic resources is a challenge that is relevant not only to Salem but its surrounding communities.  We are very fortunate to have been able to assemble a distinguished panel representing thought leaders from academia, planning and policy organizations, and practitioner architects” said Richard Lindeman, president of Historic Salem, Inc.  The panelists include: 
 
David Dixon – Vice President, Urban Places, Stantec
Steven G. Gerrard – Principal, Annum Architects
Mark Pasnik – Architect, OverUnder
Sarah Scott – Senior Regional Land Use and Historic Preservation Planner for Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)
 
Tickets may be purchased on the HSI website, www.historicsalem.org.  The cost of the Forum is $20, there is no charge to HSI members.  The reception preceding the Forum features complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.

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About Historic Salem, Inc.  
Historic Salem, Inc. (HSI) is a non-profit advocacy group based in Salem, MA dedicated to preserving Salem’s rich legacy of historic houses, buildings and other properties.  HSI advocates for architectural and visual integrity as well as appropriate adaptive reuse.  The organization participates in civic design reviews, presents annual preservation awards, provides house histories and plaques to identify historic properties throughout the city and offers educational programs that welcome newcomers and lifelong residents alike to its preservation community.  Historic Salem has served for eight decades as one of Salem’s key architectural/historical resources and advocates.  It has been instrumental in establishing official historic districts within the city and nominating several landmarks to the National Register.