COMMUNITY PROFILE
Malden ties future to schools, TeleCom City
By Teri Borseti, Globe Correspondent, 1/19/2002
Malden, just five miles north of downtown Boston, was one of the earliest communities to be settled in the 1600s. During the Industrial Revolution, the Malden River, a tributary of the Mystic River, served as a major transportation system for various mills and manufacturing companies.
"There's a lot going on here. Malden is on the edge of becoming the hot place to live," Mayor Richard Howard said.
When Howard, a lifelong Malden resident, was elected in 1996, he had his work cut out for him. Schools were deteriorating, with many of the buildings more than 100 years old. Today, the school system is a model for communities looking to revamp their schools. As soon as he took office, Howard applied to the State School Building Assistance Fund for $118 million to build five schools. Under state guidelines, Malden will receive 90 percent reimbursement for its new schools.
"In addition to the new state-of-the-art buildings, numerous changes have been implemented in school administration," the mayor said. "There is a new superintendent of schools, for one thing, and our teachers are all being trained to use technology in the classrooms. Our MCAS scores have come up considerably, and this positive trend will result in a top-notch citywide education program."
The city is also preparing a bid package to build a $9.5 million early childhood education center in the former Holmes Elementary School building. The center is scheduled to be completed by 2003.
The cities of Everett, Malden, and Medford are working together to build TeleCom City, a development that is expected to transform 200 underutilized acres along the Malden River into an 1.8-million-square foot telecommunications research and development park that could bring 5,700 new jobs to the region.
In addition, walking and biking trails and events such as the fireworks display held there in 1999, to celebrate Malden's 350th anniversary, are expected to transform the riverbank into an esplanade. Tufts University is considering building its boathouse there.
Malden Square, comprised of several blocks of retail and service businesses, and municipal offices, is busier than ever. A citywide beautification program launched by Howard included landscaping the medians, and there are more parks and open space, with some of the land having been acquired during the school building project.
"Malden is a melting pot," Howard said. "We have Asian, black, Caribbean, and Hispanic residents. Many like living here because public transportation gets them into Boston in minutes. For instance, members of our Chinese community like shopping in Chinatown, and the Orange Line gets them to downtown in 15 minutes."
The housing stock in Malden is diverse, too, including single- two- and three-family homes, grand old Victorians, and and array of condominiums.
Diane Chuha, of Century 21 Bond Realty in Malden, said she's been selling to professionals moving out of downtown Boston who want more for their money. One project she's excited about is the Glenwood, a 30-unit luxury condo complex being developed at the former Glenwood School building. One- and two-bedroom condos, due to be finished in September, will cost $179,900 to $319,900.
"Of the 30 units, I have 14 reserved already," she said. "I'm selling to empty-nesters who want to move back to Malden, and young professionals priced out of Cambridge and Charlestown who like the location."
She added that Malden also attracts first-time buyers, who can purchase a multifamily home and eventually trade up.
"People love the fact that there are five brand new schools here," she said.
Another perk for Malden residents will be a $9 million YMCA on which construction is scheduled to begin in March. The new Y (in Malden's old armory) will have two swimming pools, a complete gym, and an indoor track. The Malden Housing Authority has a partnership with the Y to make memberships available to senior citizens and housing authority residents.
In November, a $2 million ice rink, built by private investors, opened its doors.
Today, with the river being rediscovered for both recreation and industry, Malden is meeting its economic and development challenges head-on, city leaders say.
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AT A GLANCE
Incorporated: 1649 as a town, 1882 as a cityPopulation: 56,340 Area: 5.12 square miles Tax rate: residential $13.54,
commercial $27.17 Form of government: mayor and town council Median house price: $228,000 Schools: five K-8, 1 high school
More information on from Boston.com's Your Town section.
© Copyright 2001 Globe Newspaper Company
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