THE MALDEN ADVOCATE – Friday, August 2, 2019 Page 3 Malden Center makeover reaches the home stretch S By Barbara Taormina ome of the big pieces of Malden’s downtown revitalization seem to be finally falling into place. J Malden Center has started preleasing some of the project’s 320 apartments, and the openings of the center’s retail shops and Malden’s new City Hall have target dates within the next six months. Across the street, a huge banner on the side of the building has been telling Malden for about 18 months that EXCHANGE was coming first in 2018, then in 2019. And while that change won’t arrive this year, it will, at least be underway soon. Mayor Gary Christenson fielded questions on both J Malden Center and 200 Exchange Street during the Malden Live Q&A with city officials last week. Christenson told viewers who watched the meeting that was streamed on the city’s Facebook page that Malden’s new City Hall will be on the right of the site of the old City Hall. “We just got our first tour of the building, and I think the entire community will be proud of what’s happening up there,” said Christenson. The first tenants are expected at the end of the summer around the same time that pedestrians will be able to start using some of the new sidewalks. “Retailers will start moving in sometime in the fall, and City Hall is aiming for a December or January 2020 opening. From all accounts, we’re very pleased with what we’re seeing up, and we can’t wait for you to be a part of it,” Christenson told viewers. In May, Jefferson Apartment Group announced that Landsmith, a locally owned gourmet coffee shop, and Soul City Yoga, which is based just down the road in Lynn, were the first two businesses to lease some of the center’s available retail space. According to the J Malden Center website, the buildings are not open yet for tours but prospective tenants can look at floor plans, prices and the long list of amenities that include a saltwater pool, a solarium, outdoor kitchens, gaming areas, a fitness center and a rooftop deck with views of the Boston skyline. Rents for the first available studios are around $2,300 a month while one-bedroom apartments are priced from $2,535 to $2,700. Two-bedroom units run from $3,430 to $4,070 a month. And across the street, BerkeRed Sox announcer visits Malden Senior Center ley Investments Inc. is beginning the work of transforming the old Bank of America processing center into a new four-story mixed-use innovation hub with 200,000 square feet of “creative” office space, 60,000 square feet that can accommodate a data center and 16,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. “The permit was just pulled to begin construction on the ground level, where the floor will be converted to all retail space,” said Christenson. “The balance of the building will remain office space.” The building’s new design elements include floor-to-ceiling glass exteriors in parts of the building, a two-story lobby and glass storefronts on the ground floor. As for tenants, Berkeley expects to attract technology firms and creative industries that will appreciate 200 Exchange Street’s easy access to Boston and Malden’s growing population of highly skilled millennials. AUTOTECH 1989 SINCE Is your vehicle ready for the Summer Season?!! AC SPECIAL Recharge your vehicle's AC for the warm weather! Includes up to 1 IL. of Refrigerant* (*Most Vehicles) Only $59.95 DRIVE IT - PUSH IT - TOW IT! CASH FOR YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR SUV! 2012 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SE Auto., Leather, Loaded, Excellent Condition, Clean Title, Warranty, ONLY 72K Miles! Trades Welcomed READY TO GO! 2006 DODGE CHARGER Loaded with Extras, 3.5 V6 HO Motor, Premium Sound System, Dual Exhaust, Runs & Drives Great! 139K Miles, Warranty. PRICED RIGHT! $6,995 $3,995 781-321-8841 MEETING THE MAYOR: Mayor Gary Christenson (right) welcomes Dick Flavin at the Malden Senior Center. Flavin is a Red Sox announcer and columnist and discussed the Red Sox and recited poetry about baseball. At center is Cheryl Spinella, the activities coordinator at the Senior Center. (Photo Courtesy of Charles Harrington) MAYOR | FROM PAGE 1 trash, and the City expects that this size container will satisfy the needs of the residents. “We considered a grant that would have funded smaller containers but knew that it would leave too many residents with excess trash to deal with,” said Christenson. “There are some additional costs involved, but we have heard from our residents that the inconvenience of obtaining the blue bags and the bags’ inability to properly contain trash is their number one concern.” Residents will also be able to SENATE | FROM PAGE 2 rectories, particularly information about behavioral health providers and the specific services they offer. This legislation was the result of months of colrecycle using a single-stream method with a city-issued 32-gallon barrel. “We are confident that the conversion from dual-stream to single-stream recycling will be well received by our residents as well,” said Christenson. The proposal includes the addition of a $10 per month solid waste fee to be added to the water bill of each qualifying residential unit in order to make up for the elimination of the PAYT program. For more information about the proposal, please visit the City of Malden’s website at www.cityofmalden.org/trash. laboration between the Senate, insurers, providers and other stakeholders. On July 1 the House of Representatives referred the legislation to its Committee on Ways and Means. 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