PHOTO BY OFFICE OF MAYOR GARY CHRISTENSON/PAUL HAMMERSLEY PHOTO
Malden Mayor Gary Christenson, left, talks with former Mayor Richard C. Howard, center and U.S. Sen, Ed Markey, D-Mass., a lifelong Malden resident, at Friday’s farewell ceremony at Malden Government Center, which is slated for demolition.
By STEVE FREKER
MALDEN — After a year of planning and the relocation of municipal services, the city is ready to demolish City Hall and launch the revitalization of Malden Square.
Demolition starts soon, weather permitting, and sets the stage for the sale of City Hall and former police station buildings to a developer who will be transforming the site into a $30 million residential/commercial mixed-use development that will eventually include a permanent home for City Hall operations. Construction is scheduled to start in the spring.
“It’s a great day for Malden and its residents,” said Mayor Gary Christenson.
Malden’s temporary seat of government now operates on Pleasant Street, four blocks from City Hall. The renewal project will build on other recent city achievements, including construction and opening of a new, state-of-the-art police station on Eastern Avenue.
City Hall’s demolition clears the way for reconnecting Pleasant Street to create unimpeded traffic flow for the first time in 43 years.
Hailed as a well-planned ode to modern architecture when it was built in the mid-1970s, City Hall’s luster and allure wore off quickly with residents labeling the building a white elephant. For the last 15 years, the building has been blamed for many ills associated with Malden Square. Two years ago one local newspaper colloquially referred to Malden Government Center as “The Beast that Ate Pleasant Street.”
“At the time many embraced the idea of the Malden City Hall and its placement, but through the years it had been viewed as an obstacle,” said U.S. Sen. Edward Markey.
Christenson made the relocation of Malden City Hall and the reopening of Pleasant Street to vehicular traffic a major campaign pledge when he first ran for mayor. He credits Markey and former Mayor Richard C. Howard among local officials who share his vision of demolishing City Hall and envisioning the renewal project.
“There are a lot of memories from that building, lots of good ones,” said Howard.
Howard, who was mayor for 16 years, initiated proposals to relocate City Hall and reopen Pleasant Street 10 years ago. It is an initiative Malden City Councilor at large Debbie DeMaria supports.
“The (building) served its purpose, it’s an exciting time in the city of Malden and this change will be very beneficial to Malden Square and the city overall,” she said.
Christenson last Friday credited a host of city officials for supporting the renewal plans, including Former Mayor Jim Conway, state Reps. Paul Donato, Steve Ultrino, and Paul Brodeur; Malden Redevelopment Authority (MRA) Executive Director Deborah Burke and colleague Ron Hogan, Council President Peg Crowe; Councilors Craig Spadafora (at large), Paul Condon (Ward Two); Ryan O’Malley (Ward Four); Barbara Murphy (Ward Five); Neil Kinnon (Ward Six); Neal Anderson (Ward Seven); and Jadeane Sica (Ward Eight) and School Committee members Catherine Bordonaro and Emmanuel Marsh.
