The “Yes/No School” at 92 Main Street, Salisbury
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Real Estate News
Note: This article was updated to reflect the Affordable Housing Trust and Board of Selectmen endorsements from October 2025.
What is the “Yes/No School” in Salisbury?
The “Yes/No School” is the local nickname for the former Salisbury Plains Elementary School building at 92 Main Street in Salisbury, named after the yes-and-no shaped jungle gym still on the property. The site is being redeveloped into a small residential housing project — not a new school.
The building was previously used as Salisbury Plains Elementary School and later temporarily housed Sparhawk Middle School. It has been vacant for years and is owned by the Town of Salisbury. Reusing the site for housing allows the town to put an underused municipal property back into productive use.
Where is 92 Main Street located in Salisbury?
The property sits just off Congress Street near the I-95 interchange, on the Salisbury side of the highway, close to Hajis 2, the gas station, and Burger King. It’s a high-visibility gateway location where long-term vacancy has been a concern for the town.
How the town selected a developer
Salisbury issued a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) for the former school site in 2016, which is the standard legal process for selling or redeveloping town-owned property. A local developer, operating under Plain School LLC, was selected and now has the site under contract while completing environmental testing and due diligence.
What’s actually being proposed at the site
The current proposal presented to town boards is for eight total residential units:
Six market-rate homes
Two deed-restricted affordable homes
According to the Affordable Housing Trust meeting minutes, the proposal includes a preference for local residency, with one affordable unit targeted at approximately 60% of market rent/value and one affordable unit designed as a three-bedroom to better serve families .
New update: Affordable Housing Trust + Board of Selectmen support
In October 2025, both the Affordable Housing Trust and the Board of Selectmen formally endorsed the 92 Main Street redevelopment proposal. The Trust voted to support the project with recommendations for:
Local preference for the affordable units
One affordable unit priced at roughly 60% of market
One affordable unit designed as a three-bedroom
Both boards also agreed to issue letters of support for the project moving forward .
This endorsement is significant because it signals that town leadership views this project as a net positive for both housing supply and affordability.
Why this project matters locally
Salisbury has very limited opportunities to add housing without pushing development into undeveloped land. Redeveloping a former municipal property allows the town to:
Add housing in an already developed corridor
Create two new affordable units
Reduce long-term maintenance costs for a vacant building
Move incrementally toward state housing goals
For a small town, even modest projects like this can make a meaningful difference over time.
Why neighbors are paying attention
Neighbors are focused on traffic, parking, and how new residential use will integrate into the Congress Street / I-95 gateway area. That said, the project is relatively small in scale compared to most developments discussed regionally, and the alternative is leaving a large vacant municipal building in a high-traffic corridor indefinitely.
What happens next
The developer is completing due diligence and will bring finalized plans forward for local permitting and planning review. With letters of support now in place from town leadership and the Affordable Housing Trust, the project is positioned to move forward through the approval process.
Frequently asked questions: 92 Main Street (“Yes/No School”), Salisbury
What is the “Yes/No School” in Salisbury?
It’s the former Salisbury Plains Elementary School building at 92 Main Street, nicknamed for the yes/no playground equipment on the property.
Is a new school being built at 92 Main Street?
No. The site is being redeveloped into housing.
How many homes are proposed at the former Salisbury Plains Elementary School site?
Eight total units: six market-rate homes and two deed-restricted affordable homes .
Did the town support the project?
Yes. Both the Board of Selectmen and the Affordable Housing Trust voted to endorse the project and issue letters of support .
Will local residents get preference for the affordable units?
The Affordable Housing Trust recommended local preference and specific affordability targets for the two affordable units .
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