By Lorna Garey
After eight years, that hole in the ground across from the Malden Public Library has taken a concrete step toward being filled in. On April 15, the Malden Board of Appeals greenlit four zoning variances for a major development at 1 Salem St. and 15 Ferry St., in the Central Business district, setting the stage for a new seven-story mixed-use condominium complex with commercial space, including about 3,000 square feet of ground-floor retail.
The petition, presented to the board on behalf of Alpha Business Corporation, proposes using two lots — including the site of the historically significant M. Ida Converse structure at 15 Ferry — to build a roughly 52,000-square-foot building. The development features 73 compact studio and one-bedroom residential units intended to appeal to first-time buyers and empty nesters. About 15% to 20% of the units will be designated as affordable, and there will be 52 parking spaces, most of them underground, plus bike storage. The building would be valued at $28 million.
This project has been under discussion for some time, with a sticking point being the fate of 15 Ferry St.
Attorney Roberto Di Marco, representing the developer, described the proposal as the culmination of nearly a decade of working with a difficult site, within a tight urban footprint.
“We are stuck with trying to put something up that will both be financially viable as well as a benefit to the city,” said Di Marco. “The city said no rentals, so we’ve agreed to that, that’s why it’s going to be condo ownership.”
The project will be built to net-zero energy standards, featuring all-electric appliances and a green roof with terraces. To accommodate the property’s tight constraints, architect William Chalfant of KDI Architects detailed a below-grade car-stacker parking system that will hold 41 vehicles, alongside an additional 11 surface spaces.
The presenters acknowledged the historic nature of 1 Salem and 15 Ferry and have agreed to the city’s request to replicate the façade of the old structures in the new development, using materials and detailing consistent with the area’s historic character, including brick veneer façades, stone lintels, large windows and decorative trim. In a filing, Di Marco stated that the developer has worked with the city and the Malden Historical Commission to evaluate options for preservation and redevelopment. There will also be new street trees and sidewalks.
The project faced some pushback from the board over its scale and the need for four separate zoning variances, for density, usable open space, number of parking spaces and general off-street parking requirements. Board member John King was the primary dissenting voice, voting against the density and parking variances.
“We’re basically throwing out our code book,” King said, voicing concerns that the 73-unit scale was simply too large for the lot.
In defense of the density, Di Marco argued that offering owned rather than rental units would mitigate traffic and parking issues.
“This is going to be very stable living, people are going to be there long-term,” he said, and may not need cars as they’re not moving residences frequently.
Ward 4 Councilor Ryan O’Malley previously told Neighborhood View that moving the M. Ida Converse building was always a “Hail Mary” longshot. Still, acknowledging the city’s efforts to avoid demolition of 15 Ferry St., Chalfant outlined plans to pay homage to the site’s history. Under the concept, the building’s distinctive tan-brown bricks will be repurposed in various ways. Suggestions include benches, a public-way corridor with historical photos of the Converse family and installing brass footprints featuring Converse shoe treads on the sidewalks.
“People wouldn’t forget about this, and it’s also a little bit of a history lesson,” he said.
Ultimately, the board approved the usable open space variance unanimously, while the density and both parking-related variances passed by 4-1 votes. The variance for the reduced number of parking spaces, 52 spaces instead of the required 73, was approved with the condition that the developer must secure off-site parking leases for residents to fill the 21-spot gap if needed, and must actively encourage use of public transportation and ride-sharing.
Because the proposed building is over six stories, the project must still be approved by the Malden City Council, which will evaluate any potential detrimental impact on the surrounding area before a permit is issued.
If only city councilors cared half as much about housing costs as they do about “the historical character of the neighborhood,” maybe we wouldn’t have to live next to holes in the ground and abandoned buildings for years while rent goes up year after year.
At this point I’d rather the code book actually were thrown out if it meant we could take the housing shortage seriously. Instead developers have to spend years and tens of thousands of dollars addressing the aesthetic concerns of people who haven’t had to worry about making rent in decades.
Seems like you’d have more luck getting people to stay in the neighborhood by making rent cheaper than by not letting rental units be built in the first place, but what do I know.
“may not need cars as they’re not moving residences frequently.” ?? Don’t tell me they were sold by this stupidity – that’s not why people get cars – they get a car when they’re about to move out of the city – if you rent in a city, you also don’t own a car – you use zipcar or uber/lyft or public transit, because a car and parking are tow more things you can’t afford. And they let alpha mgmt in with this – the prop mgmt company’s the worst in the region. But the city needs money, and alpha’s willing to bribe, so this monstrosity’s going in.