Future of Malden Center for Arts and Culture uncertain two years after Courthouse acquisition

By Maria Yulikova

After the city acquired the Malden District Courthouse in 2022, excitement brewed among government officials and residents alike about a potential conversion of the historic building at 89 Summer St. into the Malden Center for Arts and Culture. The Mayor’s office formed an Advisory Committee to develop a detailed proposal laying out finances, renovations and how spaces should be used. In July 2022, Malden authorities published the comprehensive Concept Plan. A Feasibility Study for the proposed Malden Center for Arts & Culture was published in September 2023.

However, things have been at a standstill ever since.

“We had a very tough budget year,” said Amanda Linehan, Malden Ward 3 City Councillor. “But we stay optimistic about this project. We don’t want to see it frozen anymore and our residents offer their expertise on fundraising.”

Linehan says that State Representative Paul Donato has put money into the state budget for the rehab but what is needed is actually much higher.

Linehan said that she was “surprised” to learn how extensive the project would be to make it safe for the public. “Heating, sanitizing, ADA upgrade… we still cannot use this space even partially,” she explained.  

Eric Rubin, Malden’s Public Facilities Director, also agreed that it is unsafe for people to be inside the former courthouse. “The building needs ADA upgrade, so none of the rooms can be used even temporarily,” he said. 

Nevertheless, Rubin remains optimistic. “No one wants to see the courthouse empty for any more time,” he added. 

The Steering Committee partnered with Malden’s Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, the Boston Society for Architecture, UX Architecture Studio, and Silverman Trykowski Associates. The city also received a Community Planning Grant from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and a technical assistance grant from MassDevelopment to fund the second phase of feasibility analysis. UX Architecture Studio and STA Design completed the reuse study while the financial analysis was finalized by RKG Associates.

According to the document, the Arts Center requires a total funding of $17.6 million. This budget includes the Cultural Facility Market Study and Operating Pro Forma completed by RKG.

Naomi Kahn, a Malden Center for Arts & Culture Steering Committee member, says she has not heard anything ever since. 

“We met twice, two years ago,” Kahn told Neighborhood View. “I know that the city lacks a budget for the renovation, but I am sure they still want to do it,” she said, adding, “The Malden administration is probably looking to attract some big company to get a co-sponsor for the Arts Center.”

The initial news about the possible redevelopment had sent ripples of excitement through the Malden creative community. Plans ensued about the future of the Arts Center, with many hoping to use it for art exhibitions, studios, workshops, concerts, etc.

Lisa Sears, a local artist and art educator, became aware of the project in its earliest stages. Thrilled, Lisa envisioned a lively and dynamic arts center in the building right away. 

“I believe we should use this building for all kinds of community events and shows: art classes, community meetings, public art galleries, professional artwork shows, performances, and music concerts,” Sears told Neighborhood View. 

Jennifer Kuhnberg, the founder and director of OnStage Dance Company, a non-profit performing arts organization for adults, has been in business for over 15 years. She moved to Malden nearly 8 years ago, setting up a studio in Maplewood Square.  When the 2020 pandemic made the studio in Malden cease operations, Kuhnberg began renting hourly studio spaces in Cambridge. OnStage organizes festivals and performances in different locations around Boston, while it used to be in Malden, primarily. 

“I was very excited to learn about the future Arts Center in our town. For me, this means the perspective of having a permanent studio in Malden once again,” Kuhnberg said.  She added that she could have tapped the local cultural council for future performances and festivals in Malden.

Kuhnberg is familiar with The Foundry, a new self-sustaining center of creativity and collaboration at Kendall Square in Cambridge, a building that is owned by the city of Cambridge. 

“In two years after the opening of the [Foundry] building, they developed a cultural center there,” Kuhnberg said. 

According to the The Foundry website, the project has transformed this “historic landmark into a contemporary facility.” It has a performance space, an art studio, a dance studio, a demonstration kitchen and office spaces that are designed to inspire creative collaboration. This is an example of a successful public-private partnership to “redevelop a property and deliver a public asset that would not have been possible through private or public efforts alone.”

According to 2024 Malden Labor Force statistics, 260 Malden residents are currently employed in the arts, entertainment and recreational sectors, while over 400 are independent artists, writers and performers. These numbers are projected to grow rapidly, according to the Cultural Facility Market Study prepared for Malden by RKG Associates. 

Meanwhile, Malden has some public art exhibition spaces for visual art, namely the Urban Media Arts gallery, the hallway at the Malden Public Library, the Commerce Place lobby at 350 Main St. and the Limelight wall of the Gallery@57. While other buildings allow exhibitions, they are not consistently used to showcase fine art or are limited in availability. 

Similarly, Malden has a few spaces that may be rented and used as performance halls. They include the Senior Center, St. Paul’s Parish Church, First Parish Church, the Thomas ’66 and Olivia McDonough Performing Arts Center at Malden Catholic, the Ryder Gallery at the Malden Public Library, and the Jenkins Auditorium at Malden High School. All of these halls are subject to schedule limitations. Some lack appropriate lighting systems, require additional sound, and/or lack a professional-quality piano.

Malden has about six active dance studios, two of which offer classes to adults as well as children. 

Imposing yet empty, the Courthouse building was built in 1922. Known as the First District Court of Eastern Middlesex, the building stands witness to many pivotal events, including when Malden native Emma Fall Schofield was appointed as the first female assistant attorney general in New England. 

Until 2019, the Courthouse hosted the Malden District Court before they moved to Medford to allow renovation and repairs. By 2020, the Commonwealth decided to dispose of the building as surplus property before selling it to the City of Malden for $480,000.

Councillor Linehan explains that, although the renovation project is stalled, some steps have recently been taken by the Facilities Department to improve the building’s facade and security in the meantime.

“Several new trees and period lighting just went in all along the exterior, and we’ve replaced the lighting out front for added security,” Linehan said. “Additionally, we’ve implemented temporary permit parking for the neighborhood to use overnight in the lots that come with the property, including the small one behind the building on Lincoln Street, and the larger one on Summer Street. These can be used for folks patronizing businesses in the area as well.” 

Despite the standstill on the building project, many residents remain optimistic about the prospect of an arts and culture center for Malden.

Sharon Santillo, a local artist, educator and arts activist, wants the future Arts Center to be named after the iconic American artist, Frank Stella. The artist was born in Malden in 1936, where he lived until he moved to attend high school at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. He later lived in New York City. 

“Very few places can claim a favorite son in the art world who rose to the stature of Frank Stella,” Santillo said. “Since he first gave us permission to use his art on our wayfinding signs, he continued to give to this community, valuable art to our Converse Galleries, a spectacular mural design for our high school. He didn’t forget his Malden roots,” she added.

If you are interested in the future of this project, you can subscribe to email updates on this city website page. You can also email questions, comments or suggestions to Ward 3 City Councilor Amanda Linehan at alinehan@cityofmalden.org.

Maria Yulikova immigrated to the US from Russia in 2016 and has been living in Malden since then. She is a former journalist who joined Neighborhood View to refresh her professional skills and enjoy reporting on local stories.