North Shore Community Development Coalition recently wrapped up its Salem Point Apartments II renovation in Salem, and announced a ribbon ceremony to celebrate. The ceremony will also commemorate the unveiling of a newly created pocket park and replication of two large deteriorated neighborhood murals.

The over $18-million rehab was the largest development renovation and the first open space and public art renovation to be completed by North Shore CDC.

Eleven buildings in Salem Point received upgrades such as new kitchens, bathrooms, roofs, windows, masonry repairs, flooring upgrades, energy-efficient mechanical systems, insulation improvements, energy and water-usage reduction features and a solar thermal hot water heating system. Historic restorations to the outside of buildings were also completed. The renovation was completed by NEI General Contracting and designed by Davis Square Architects.

The original murals that were replicated by Oliver Brothers Fine Art Restoration and Conservation during the renovation were originally constructed by community members in the late ’90s.

Funds for the development were raised through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program issued by the Department of Housing and Community Development, state and federal Historic Tax Credits, the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation, Institution for Savings, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, the North Shore HOME Consortium, the City of Salem HOME program, MassDevelopment, Dorfman Capital, CEDAC and Eastern Bank.

The new 15 Ward St. Pocket Park was formerly a dumping site. Salem Point Neighborhood residents helped design the park, adding in a small basketball court with seating, green space and a community kiosk. Funding for the park was supported by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the Salem Community Preservation Act and the City of Salem’s CDBG, with design by Michelle Crowley Landscape Architecture and Boscardin Consulting Engineers and construction by Anderson Landscape Construction.