New York Developer Seeks to Turn Gravel Pit Into Retail Pit Stop

A developer from New York plans to fill part of an old gravel pit off Highway 22 and Turner Road en route to one of Salem’s largest retail developments in two decades.

Newman Development Group is in due diligence to purchase of the property. The site is owned by Staats Corp., which is asking nearly $7 million for the land. The site is a prime retail location, with high visibility from Highway 22 and proximity to Interstate 5.

The property has many development advantages. It’s flat and zoned for commercial or industrial uses. A retail development would not require approval from City Council or the planning commission.