Featured

Work proceeds on Malden’s new city hall

By Diti Kohli As the reconstruction of Malden City Hall enters its its final year, details on time of completion, parking, and security are now emerging. The exact finishing date of the new Malden city hall cannot be confirmed until the city acquires the building’s shell, according to a city official. The goal is to open the building by late 2019 or early 2020. Ron Hogan, director of the parking department and member of the municipal building committee, said the city “anticipates taking possession of the building sometime in the early April time frame.” Until then, individual offices cannot be built. Initially, the city reported they would acquire possession in March with the goal to finish construction by November 2019.  The demolition of the previous city hall, which was built in the 1970s, will reconnect the two ends of Pleasant Street and provide access to the MBTA Station at Malden Center. The new buildings, developed by Jefferson Apartment Group, will be an eclectic mix of commercial, residential, and civic sections. Retail stores will occupy 22,000 […]

Featured

Brick by brick, “The Beast That Ate Pleasant Street” is demolished

With the sound of crashing bricks and breaking glass, the demolition of the former Malden Government Center and police station continues this summer. Bit by bit, the structure at 200 Pleasant Street is coming down for a new mixed-use development. A short video by Neil D. Novello, “When the Crews Arrive,” captures the sight and sounds of a truck and crane pulling away the facade of the 1970s-era structure like the claw of a hungry dinosaur digging for food. The demolition is schedule to continue through the end of August. The demolition of the building first hailed as an architectural achievement and then dubbed “The Beast that Ate Pleasant Street,” will re-connect the two ends of Pleasant Street and provide access to the MBTA Station at Malden Center. According to the Malden Redevelopment Authority, the new “Jefferson at Malden Center” will have “320 residential units in two buildings, a 45,000-square-foot office condominium shell (to be built out by the City for a new city hall), more than 22,500 square feet of ground floor retail and approximately 330 […]

Events

Parade of Holiday Traditions returns to Malden

On Saturday, November 29 starting at 2 p.m. at the Salemwood School, families and children will be attending Malden’s annual Parade of Holiday Traditions carrying and wearing their creations as part of local artist Greg Cook’s Enchanted Forest. The parade will line up along Waite Street Extension and will travel up Maplewood Street then turn left onto Salem Street and will end at the reviewing stand at Malden High School. Santa Claus will be making a special visit and Malden’s City Hall Plaza will boast festive holiday music and the official lighting of the Christmas tree at 4 p.m. On Saturday November 22, Malden artists Kari Percival and Greg Cook hosted a Kids Craft Workshop at the Malden Public Library. Participants created signs and masks on the themes of “Winter Wildlife” and “Peace on Earth.” Percival mentioned they got their inspiration from the Fells ecosystem and the variety of wildlife around Malden during the winter months. The library event was well attended. Parents and kids representing many cultures and ages filled up rows of tables and worked side by […]

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Last day on the job for Malden Observer editor Nathan Lamb

Nathan Lamb stepped into the role of editor at the Malden Observer in the summer of 2011 just a few months before Gary Christenson was elected mayor. Three years is actually a long tenure for that post. Neighborhood View caught up with him as he prepares to leave the position. What will you miss most about the job? These things are always kind of bittersweet. I’m excited to start at a new job but I’ll miss the stories that take place every day here. I’ll miss meeting such a variety of great people in Malden and being out and about in the community. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know some great organizations in Malden like the Bread of Life, the Immigrant Learning Center, Triangle, and MATV. I’ve also been fortunate to work with a great team of regular contributors who’ve helped me fill the paper, week-in and week-out, so I guess now is a good time to thank them! Where will you be going? I’ve taken a job with a content management firm up in […]