BY MATT HERSH

When people rent apartments in Salem, location is an important consideration. But for property owner Larry Jacobs, it can be a deal-breaker.

In March, Jacobs purchased 42 apartments on Meisner Circle. But now, he’s having trouble finding people who want to move in because of the complex’s bad reputation of drug deals and criminal activity.

When he tells people where the apartments are in town, they hang up on him, he said.

That’s why he’s asked selectmen to approve changing the street’s name, an uncommon request.

But the board is split over the issue, and getting the name changed could become a lengthy process.

One of the five selectmen said he is against changing the name, one is undecided, and another said he will abstain from voting because he does locksmith work for Jacobs.

At a recent selectmen meeting, the board’s chairman, Everett McBride, said he’s not inclined to change a street’s name for any reason. In his 14 years serving on the board, the town has only changed one street name, he said.

The only time the board approved a change was when Felder Avenue became Fielder Avenue because the street sign did not match the property owners’ deeds.

“I’m not in favor of changing the street’s name,” he said.  “I think (Jacobs) is doing everything he needs to do to turn that property around.”

Others spoke in favor of changing the name in order to help Jacobs and to remove the stigma surrounding the apartments.

“I have no problem renaming a street for a good reason,” said Selectman Beth Roth. “(Jacobs) is trying to bring something positive to the town and I don’t see any downside.”

Though he will abstain from voting, Selectman Patrick Hargreaves said he also supports Jacobs’ effort.  In the four months Jacobs has owned the apartments, several positive changes have taken place, he said.

“It used to be that when you mentioned drugs in Salem, you were talking about Meisner Circle,” Hargreaves said. 

“But (Jacobs) did an overhaul and turned it around. He’s trying to revive this cul-de-sac.”

Still, getting the name changed would require convincing board members Arthur Barnes and Michael Lyons, who are still on the fence about the issue.

“I’m still thinking about it,” Lyons said. “I’m not unsympathetic to what he wants to do. I just haven’t made up my mind yet.”

The next step for Jacobs will be choosing a proposed name for the street and meeting with Town Manager Henry LaBranche.

LaBranche said he is also looking into whether changing the name would have any impact on public safety because it could cause confusion for emergency vehicles.

The board will likely hold a public hearing and make a decision on the matter in August, LaBranche said.