MALDEN — Mayor Gary Christenson will deliver his seventh State of the City address Tuesday Feb. 27 at Anthony’s with the traditional event hosted by the Malden Chamber of Commerce.
The event begins with a meal at 7:30 a.m., followed by the mayor’s remarks and presentation. Those expected to attend include municipal and state government officials, local business owners, civic and religious leaders and many Malden residents.
Christenson is expected to include a review of the past year’s accomplishments and achievements in the city, which has seen improved and enhanced infrastructure, particularly in its streets, roadways and parks. That includes the official demolition of the 40-year-old Malden Government Center and Police Station complex, which is in the process of being replaced with an expansive mixed use development using SmartGrowth principles.
The mayor is also expected to address strides made in the public schools, both in academics, management and athletic programs, and in local commerce, where many new businesses have arrived in the past year.
Christenson will also look to the future and customarily includes key announcements, often regarding major redevelopment initiatives.
Holding aloft a set of keys as he started his speech last year, Christenson announced to a full house of about 300 that he was handing them over to Jefferson Apartment Group to build a residential-commercial and retail mix development on the former City Hall site.
Christenson’s first term and a half in office focused in part on the relocation of City Hall and the Malden Police Station, the redevelopment of the site, and the reopening of Pleasant Street to through vehicular traffic after 43 years.
Another key theme in Christenson’s 2017 address was Malden’s diversity and the ways in which he and his staff strive to reach and include all.
“One of the Malden’s greatest strengths is our concern for each other. In this city we care about each other,” he said last year.
Christenson in last year’s speech also spoke of the expanding menu of programs being offered by the Recreation Department and announced an active plan underway with the Malden Public Schools athletic department to offer middle school sports in grades 6-7-8 beginning this fall.
Limited tickets for the Feb. 27 speech available through the Chamber of Commerce, maldenchamber.org.
