Looking Ahead with Mayor Michael McGlynn

Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn has served for twenty-two years and is now the longest-serving mayor in the state. He is entering his twelfth consecutive two-year term in January.

During a recent conversation, Mayor McGlynn took some time to reflect on his past twenty-two years. He said he feels great about what he has accomplished- new and improved parks, new schools, quality development such as Station Landing and River’s Edge. He is quick to point out that none of those accomplishments would have happened without the help and support of the School Committee, City Council, and Medford citizens.

However, the mayor doesn’t spend much time talking about the past and it’s clear he doesn’t intend to spend his next two years in office touting past accomplishments. Mayor McGlynn has big plans for the city and here’s what coming up in 2010 and 2011.

Medford Square

Medford Square will start to see some changes in 2010 and 2011. A new restaurant is planned for 55 High Street. The owners of the Sal’s Pizza chain are opening an Italian restaurant, Salvatore’s, in the space and are also taking over the Medford Transcript’s former office for take out. The restaurant is expected to open in April.

The re-development of Clippership Drive (“Ring Road”) is going out to bid. The road will be straightened out and green space is going to be expanded along the river. The city also wants to sell or lease the large parking lot next to the road for a development that includes housing, retail space, and parking, sort of a like a smaller version of Station Landing, said the mayor. Medford has already received $2 million- $1 million each in state and federal funding- for the Ring Road project.

A new parking garage is planned for Governors Avenue. Medford has state funding for a feasibility study that will examine the potential size, “look, and feel” of a new parking garage. Mayor McGlynn said he wants a more attractive garage, possibly brick, that “fits the historic look and feel” of the area. He also said he wants to make the garage seem closer to the Chevalier Theatre and a possible overpass connecting the garage to the theater is being considered.

The Arcade Building next the post office has been sold. The building is completely empty because the area is being cleaned up due to contamination caused by a dry cleaners that used to be in the building. The clean up will take a year to complete. McGlynn said he wants to work with the developer of the building to potentially create more parking and retail space on the spot by talking the building down.

The bids have come in for the redevelopment of Condon Shell. The two-part project includes fixing up the parking lot and creating more green space as well as building a new band shell that is two and one half times the size of the existing one. Mayor McGlynn said the existing shell is too small, in poor condition, and is not handicapped accessible.

Station Landing and River’s Edge

A new hotel is planned for Station Landing and Mexican chain restaurant Margaritas should open in March. Two additional office buildings are planned for River’s Edge. McGlynn said Marriott International, which moved into the first office building, has attracted some interest from other companies despite the weak commercial rental market.

Mystic River

Mayor McGlynn pictures a Mystic River that has interconnected trails for walkers and joggers and water taxis that provide alternative transportation across the city or to other communities. He would like to see paths that connect all the way from Medford Square to River’s Edge, and water taxis that could take a shopper from the Assembly Square mall to lunch at Station Landing. McGlynn said the city plans on spending the federal funding it has received to create docking facilities on the river in locations such as Station Landing, River’s Edge, the McGlynn School complex, the Assembly Square Mall, the Gateway Mall, and Condon Shell.

“The goal is to get people back to the river…we’re just a couple spots away from connecting the whole thing,” said Mayor McGlynn, referring to the walking and jogging paths that snake along the river in several areas in Medford.

New Fields at Medford High School

Heimlich Landscaping and Construction Corporation of Woburn has won the bid to create new turf fields behind Medford High School. The company is currently working on fields in Winchester. The project has gone out to bid several times and the last bid went out at $1.8 million, down from the original $2.5 million bid. The idea of a cell tower has been scrapped. Digging for the new fields should begin in the spring.

Sound like a lot for just two years?

“If I get all that done I’ll be very happy!” Said Mayor McGlynn.