Re: Malden Minor League Baseball Stadium
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From Boston.com story about proposed ballpark
A Boston development group last night made its first public pitch for Malden Park, a $50 million minor league baseball stadium proposed for the current site of a National Grid facility on Commercial Street.
Boston Baseball Field of Dreams, led by lawyer Alex Bok, proposes a 6,372-seat stadium that would host a team from the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The independent league has eight teams, whose players include college all-stars warming up for the pros, and former Major League players rehabbing to get back to the big leagues.
A standing-room-only crowd filled the City Council chamber at Malden Government Center to view a 3D presentation of the project, one of the largest developments ever proposed for downtown Malden. The synthetic turf field also would be available to the Malden High baseball team.
"I am grateful they chose our community," said Mayor Gary Christenson, who organized the public meeting. "I look forward to learning about this unique opportunity."
The red-brick stadium would feature a 360-degree concourse, 16 private boxes, and a children's play area. In addition to concession stands, a restaurant would be open year-round. A grass picnic area would allow patrons to spread out a blanket while watching a game. A plaza, opening onto Commercial Street, would provide a dramatic entrance, with space available for pre-game entertainment.
Aerial view from the outfield of the proposed Malden Park.
"Every game is an event," Bok said. "We want to be bring affordable, family fun to Malden ... We have brought together an amazing team to bring this to you."
The project's all-star team includes architects, baseball analysts and finance advisers with experience building minor league stadiums and Major League venues such as Camden Yards, home to the Baltimore Orioles. Malden Park would be modeled on a minor league stadium in Missouri that used by a Double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals.
Congressman Edward J. Markey, a Malden Democrat, was on hand to lend his support for the proposed Malden Park.
"This is such an exciting night," said Markey, who said he lives about six blocks from the proposed ballpark. "I think all of us came here to be a part of this hopeful, new development. This can really be an historic moment for our city."
The park would take up an entire city block on Commercial Street, across from the MBTA Orange Line. The proximity to public transportation makes the site ideal for a ballpark, proponents said.
"It will be a real, sustainable smart-growth project," said Phil Young, a Missouri-based architect who is designing the stadium, with help from a Chelsea firm.
The ballpark would be located on an 8-acre site, comprised mainly of a National Grid gas operations center, which will relocate in the spring. Three other privately owned parcels on Canal Street also must be acquired to create enough space for the ballpark.
"We look forward to resuming negotiations with the Canal Street property owners," Bok said.
Bok and his group have been scouting sites in Greater Boston for years, but could never find a parcel available that was large enough to build a stadium from scratch. "There is no other site we found that met our criteria," he said.
The Malden site is ideal because it is located on the MBTA Orange line, has highway access, and 1,200 parking spots available in downtown garages, he said. "We really believe we have the best site in Greater Boston," Bok said.
The Malden Redevelopment Authority, working with National Grid, issued a request for proposals for development ideas for the site. Although a few developers inquired, Bok's group was the only one that submitted a final proposal. The 75-page document, along with last night's presentation, will be published on the city's website, cityofmalden.org, by Tuesday, Christenson said.
A committee reviewing the proposal will have to make a recommendation to the Malden Redevelopment Authority. That panel would then have to vote to designate Bok's group as developer of the site. If that happens, lease negotiations would start with National Grid, which plans to retain ownership of the land, officials said.
If Bok's group reaches agreement with National Grid, state and local permitting would begin later this year. Once permitted, construction could begin in winter 2013, and the park would open in 2014, according to the time line.
Stephen M. Wishoski, executive director of the Malden Redevelopment Authority, said the approval process would be long and detailed. At public hearings, Malden residents could weigh in on the project. "This is the beginning of a very long process that will involve, and ensure, participation by the public," he said.
Residents at Thursday's meeting expressed mixed views.
"What happens down the road, when the team is done?" asked Mike Aliberte. "Then what would we do with the stadium?"
Jim Vozzella said a ballpark would shine a bright light on Malden. "As far as I'm concerned, it would bring people into the city," Vozzella said. "You're not going to get 6,000 people just from Malden at the games. ... You're going to bring new people here. I think that's great."
