Page 12 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, October 27, 2023 Malden’s Housing Trust Makes First Awards to Affordable Housing Projects M alden’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board awarded more than $800,000 to two affordable housing projects on October 18th, marking the first time that the Board awarded funds to housing development projects. “This moment has been years in the making and marks a new chapter in our efforts to combat the housing crisis,” said Mayor Christenson, who chairs the Trust Fund Board. “Affordable housing doesn’t happen by accident – it requires intention, commitment, and investment from leaders, developers, neighbors, and the whole community. These two projects will take two blighted properties and transform them into affordable homes for Malden residents, improving our neighborhoods and strengthening our community at the same time.” In addition to funds allocated by the Mayor and Council, the Trust also received $300,000 from the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) to develop affordable housing on their KILLED | FROM PAGE 1 Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Malden Police Chief Glenn Cronin identified the victim for the first time on Wednesday. Mary T. McTaggart, who was believed to be a Forest Street resident, was the victim in the case, authorities said. According to the Middlesex DA, the preliminary investigation indicates that a BMW SUV was traveling south on Main Street when it collided with another SUV that was stopped at the traffic light at the intersection with Mountain Avenue. This is one of Malden’s busiest intersections. After striking the first vehicle, the BMW SUV ultimately traveled off the roadway, striking two telephone poles and knocking down a traffic light, before fatally striking an adult female – who was identified as Mary McTaggart – who was standing on the sidewalk. She was trapped underneath the behalf through a pilot program. Under the program, the Trust awards the CPC’s funds to affordable housing projects. “We are thrilled that Community Preservation Act funds will be creating new affordable housing for Malden's residents,” said CPC Co-Chairs Rachael Running and Eric Henry. “CPC's partnership with the Trust pairs our funding and housing expertise to serve our most vulnerable residents. We look forward to partnering with the Trust to create more affordable housing for our community.” The 213 Main Street project was awarded $373,625 from the Trust, including $300,000 in funds from the CPC. This project will build 20 affordable units on the site of the former Salvation Army building, including sixteen units affordable to residents at 60% of the area median income (AMI) and four units affordable to residents at 30% AMI. The project is led by Asian Community Development Corporation, which bought the property last year with the Pictured: Renderings (from left) 213 Main Street by ACDC; and 272 Cross Street by TND City’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. 213 Main Street received Planning Board approval earlier this month, with more than one hundred residents writing in favor. If state funding is approved for the project in 2024, construction would begin in early 2025. More information about this project is available at cityofmalden.org/213main. The Trust also awarded $450,000 to 272-274 Cross Street, a project to build five homeownership units on the site of an unoccupied, partially demolished three-family home. Three of the units will be nearby hospital as a precaution, though no injuries have been reported to either them or the driver of the BMW SUV. No other persons in the area of the crash were reported injured as a result of the accident. Some news reports stated the FUNERAL FUND DRIVE: A funeral fund drive on GoFundMe has been started for the late Mary T. McTaggart. BMW, and firefighters used Jaws of Life to help free her from the wrecked vehicle. She was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead. According to reports, the victim had just visited the Middlesex YMCA Food Pantry nearby on Dartmouth Street and most likely was headed home on foot with her pushcart. The driver of the BMW remained on the scene. Two occupants of the vehicle that was initially struck were taken to a driver and passenger in the vehicle that was struck while parked at the traffic light were on duty agents of the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE), though that information has not been confirmed by either the Middlesex DA or Malden Police at this time. The intersection was shut down due to the ensuing investigation and because the traffic light was knocked down and not operable through Friday and into Saturday. Also, the stretch of road from the YMCA front door on Mountain Avenue going east to the Main Street intersection was shut down for over 24 hours into Saturday due to the investigation. A funeral fund for Mary T. TWO VEHICLES: The two SUV vehicles involved in the crash are shown side-by-side. McTaggart has been set up by a person identifying as her cousin on a GoFundMe Page accessible at the following link: https:// www.gofundme.com/f/funeral-fund-for-mary-teresa-mctaggart. As of Thursday morning, nearly $7,500 had been raised. No charges had been reported as being filed in connection with the crash as of Advocate press deadline Thursday morning. affordable to households earning 100% AMI, and two will be affordable to households earning 80% AMI. Construction of the project, which is led by The Neighborhood Developers (TND), will begin in early 2024 and be completed in early summer 2025. The Trust’s funding commitment is contingent on the City’s ARPA Housing subcommittee’s pending commitment of City ARPA funds to the same project. More information about this project is available at cityofmalden.org/272cross. Both projects are part of the City’s vacant/ foreclosed property program, where unused or blighted properties are converted into affordable housing. The program is a partnership between the City’s Inspectional Services Department and the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD). Both affordable housing projects will include a preference for Malden residents for 70% of the units, the maximum allowed by federal fair housing law. More information about the Affordable Housing Trust Fund is available at cityofmalden. org/ahtf. Junior Aid brings light to the darkness of cancer Special to The Advocate T he Leukemia & Lymphoma Society hosts an annual walk, Light the Night, to bring light to the darkness of cancer. Junior Aid Association of Malden members walked on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at the Boston Common. Junior Aid’s primary focus is to raise funding for health-related issues in our community. The members participated in Light the Night to remember those we have lost to cancer, as well as to honor cancer survivors and raise awareness and money to bring hope to cancer patients and their families. Junior Aid raised $700 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Junior Aid sends many thanks to the community for their support and donations to their Light the Night team! Funding from the event is used for cutting-edge research and providing support services to patients and their families during their cancer journey. Junior Aid Association of Malden members, pictured left to right, at Light the Night on the Boston Common: Mary Doucette, Courtney Doucette, Kelly Yin, Paula Higgins, President Susan Higgins, Eleanor Kenney and Helen Kipnis.
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