Malden + Melrose Infill and Small Developments

[DZH22]

This is in Melrose off the Rock Circuit Trail. It's definitely new as I remember there being weird/broken down stuff there before, like a water tower maybe, or a mini windmill.

IMG_0980 by David Z, on Flickr

IMG_0981 by David Z, on Flickr

 

[sm89]

Construction has started on 12-16 Essex St, Melrose. Here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZSUh8hqvWx8LXFQg8
The building was torn down a few weeks back. Will become 4-story, 24 units with ground floor retail.
It was initially going to be 14 units, but then became a 40B project!

Construction is Set to Begin for the Redevelopment of 12-16 Essex Street | Melrose MA

The City of Melrose Office of Planning and Community Development announced that the construction for the redevelopment o

www.cityofmelrose.org

 

[Winston3D]

Looks like these are the plans for the new building:

https://www.cityofmelrose.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif3451/f/pages/architectural_plans.pdf

 

[sm89]

New project just added to the Melrose development review webpage. https://www.cityofmelrose.org/offic...-529-franklin-street-site-plan-review-special

"to alter the Corinthian Hall building at 521 Franklin Street and construct an attached 5-story residential building behind the existing building."

34 units. 21 parking spaces. Keeps both existing commercial tenants in the Corinthian Hall building (but the function space itself goes). Not a huge fan of the design. Looks a bit Colorado ski resort-esque to me?

 

[stick n move]

164 Essex Street Apartments​

“Redevelopment of an underused parking lot adjacent to an MBTA Commuter Rail station with a 5-story building containing 76 apartments.”

“The City has received notice that MassHousing is reviewing an application for Site Approval for a proposed Comprehensive Permit Development for land located at 164 Essex Street.

The project proposal involves constructing a 76-unit multifamily mixed income rental development. The proposed building is 5-stories with parking under and behind the building. Nineteen of the proposed units (25%) will be affordable to households earning at or below 80% of AMI.

The City is in the process of reviewing the application materials and formulating a response to submit to MassHousing by February 20, 2024. MassHousing will review the proposed project, consider the City’s comments, and may issue a site eligibility letter at which point the applicant can apply for a Comprehensive Permit from the Melrose Zoning Board of Appeals.”

https://www.bldup.com/projects/164-essex-street-apartments

https://www.cityofmelrose.org/board...ite-approval-comprehensive-permit-application

 

[sm89]

I wonder how the proposal could change if they acquire that other parcel behind them that they refer to.

A path along the tracks to the station would also be nice here.

 

[sm89]

Some changes appear to be coming to the 521 Franklin St proposal. I really hated the initial design. Felt somewhat like a Colorado ski-resort condo vibe??
New proposal looking to be a modern mansard take. The City's website is a little difficult to follow as they just sort of haphazardly update and group things, so I think that's the direction they're headed?

Previous plan: https://www.cityofmelrose.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif3451/f/pages/arch_plan_240319_0.pdf
"Preliminary changes plan": https://www.cityofmelrose.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif3451/f/pages/521franklin_20240710_plan.pdf

 

[Smuttynose]

A few Melrose projects —

453 Franklin Ave. (21 units, retail, very transit-oriented)

12 Sylvan Street This project shows the stupidity of density caps. The good: This is a 4 unit project replacing a single-family home. The bad: These are massive 5-bedroom units w/ 2 parking spaces each. Nine 2-bedroom apartments would create more housing and less bedrooms.

12 Essex Street (24 units, retail, located across from City Hall)

 

[Stlin]

12 Sylvan Street This project shows the stupidity of density caps. The good: This is a 4 unit project replacing a single-family home. The bad: These are massive 5-bedroom units w/ 2 parking spaces each. Nine 2-bedroom apartments would create more housing and less bedrooms.

View attachment 55341

You know, I'm not necessarily annoyed about that. It's a fairly common complaint that existing "family sized" (≥3 beds) are occupied by groups of roommates, or older households and not those with children. Admittedly, 5 beds is particularly large, but I don't think it's a bad thing to expand the supply of larger units.

Relatively few families occupy the Boston region’s family-size homes

Instead, older empty-nesters and roommates cluster in condos and apartments with three bedrooms and up—the sort perfect for families with kids—a new report says.

boston.curbed.com

 

[#bancars]

This Bloomberg article features an interesting co-housing project in Malden I hadn't heard of--Bay State Cohousing.

Paris Restricts Through Traffic in City Center

A long-planned ban on private cars driving through the heart of the French capital is the latest part of Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s campaign to cut pollution and congestion.

www.bloomberg.com

About — Bay State Cohousing

www.baystatecohousing.net

 

[FK4]

This Bloomberg article features an interesting co-housing project in Malden I hadn't heard of--Bay State Cohousing.

Paris Restricts Through Traffic in City Center

A long-planned ban on private cars driving through the heart of the French capital is the latest part of Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s campaign to cut pollution and congestion.

www.bloomberg.com

About — Bay State Cohousing

www.baystatecohousing.net

Cool. One day my wife and I were walking in our neighborhood in JP (back when I lived there), and saw a nice looking building series that was inviting, so we went into the courtyard and started talking to a guy in there. He said it was exactly what this article describes -- a group of JPers years back banded together and got apartment buildings built but the whole plan was designed to encourage interaction with neighbors. The one I am talking about is called JP Cohousing.

It was super cool. Isolation is the real disease (other than capitalism of course). We need way way more stuff like this, but of course you have to want to live there... nice to see though!

 

[stick n move]

50+ Unit Project Planned in Melrose​

186 Tremont Street

“The new 5 story building would include 2,750 square feet of commercial space on the first floor and 52 residential units on floors two through five, eight (8) of which will be designated as affordable. The development anticipates a total of 61 parking spaces for both the commercial and residential uses, and residential parking will be leased to tenants separately from the unit….”

https://www.bldup.com/posts/50-unit-project-planned-in-melrose

 

[Java King]

That looks really nice. I could easily see something like that in Scituate.

 

[stick n move]

554-556 Franklin Street Update​

“5-story multifamily project along Franklin Street in Melrose. The project would offer 60 units with 15 designated affordable to households earning at or below 80% of AMI. There will be parking under the building on the ground level for 48 cars and plans also show a common outdoor terrace.”

https://www.bldup.com/posts/60-unit-project-proposed-in-melrose

 

[stick n move]

Malden’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund makes award Toward Senior Rental Project​

“Mayor Gary Christenson and Malden’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board recently awarded funds towards a housing project at Overlook Ridge that will bring 79 units of affordable apartments for households 55 and older. This project is the first of three mixed-income housing developments WinnDevelopment proposes to construct at Overlook Ridge.
The project at Lot 13B at Overlook Ridge was awarded $349,166.52 from Malden’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund during their February meeting. The Trust awarded funds it received through its ongoing partnership with the Community Preservation Committee (CPC), which provides funds for affordable housing to the Trust each year. The 13B project is a mixed-income, senior rental project for heads of household fifty-five and above……..”

https://www.cityofmalden.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1027

 

[stick n move]

Melrose Development Site Trades for $1.9M: $9M in Financing Secured​

“A Quincy-based developer has acquired 31-39 West Wyoming Avenue in Melrose for $1,900,000 with $9,425,000 in financing secured through Crowd Lending, Inc.. Plans for the site just steps from the MBTA Commuter rail call for 26 residential units.”

https://www.bldup.com/posts/melrose-development-site-trades-for-1-9m-9m-in-financing-secured

 

[stick n move]

Vacant multifamily property in Malden to be redeveloped for first-time homebuyers​

“A redevelopment project in Malden will transform a vacant multifamily property into five new condos reserved for moderate-income, first-time homebuyers.
Once renovations from The Neighborhood Developers, Inc., are complete, the condos will feature amenities like energy-efficient appliances, in-unit laundry and basement storage areas.

Two units will be designated for first-time homebuyers earning up to 80% of the area median income and three for those earning up to 100% percent AMI. The homes are expected to sell at prices ranging from $240,370 to $352,749.
The 272-274 Cross Street location offers proximity to MBTA bus stops, the Malden Center MBTA transportation hub and Orange Line, Malden City Hall, Lincoln Commons Playground and Newman Park…..”

https://bostonagentmagazine.com/2025/05/08/malden-homes-first-time-homebuyers/

 

[PercyL]

Melrose Development Site Trades for $1.9M: $9M in Financing Secured​

View attachment 62322

“A Quincy-based developer has acquired 31-39 West Wyoming Avenue in Melrose for $1,900,000 with $9,425,000 in financing secured through Crowd Lending, Inc.. Plans for the site just steps from the MBTA Commuter rail call for 26 residential units.”

https://www.bldup.com/posts/melrose-development-site-trades-for-1-9m-9m-in-financing-secured

That would be interesting to see if it got completed. It's a somewhat gritty area (and one of the worst traffic bottlenecks because of the tight and awkward road configuration, the commuter rail station, and two nearby elementary schools with attendant dropoff/pickup snarls) by Melrose standards, and part of that has been the very long-vacant corner lot.

 

[mssrro]

5/23:

Noticed this project underway in Melrose.

14-24 Tremont Street / Residences at Cedar Park (78[?] units)

 

[stick n move]

5/23:

Noticed this project underway in Melrose.

14-24 Tremont Street / Residences at Cedar Park (78[?] units)

Nice hadnt seen this. Heres the project presentation with a couple screengrabs.

https://www.cityofmelrose.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif3451/f/pages/10._building_architectural_plans_-_14-24_tremont_st.pdf

That is what shows up in all the planning documents I can find, but it looks different than the building on the sign. I was able to find that rendering on some random guys twitter along with this caption:

“After 9+ months of insane and miserable public hearings - during which 20 units have removed, more made smaller, and setbacks made larger - a decision on the 87-unit building at 14-24 Tremont St in Melrose was *once again* delayed tonight.

Sounds about right…

https://twitter.com/x/status/1722453192804319465

And I guess it was approved after killing 11 more units..

https://twitter.com/x/status/1735427362664100250