River’s Edge Development Taking Shape

A rendering of the view from the Malden River of one of the proposed office buildings at River’s Edge.  Photo courtesy Gensler.

A partially submerged barge was one of many environmental hazards that had to be removed from the old industrial site.  Photo courtesy Gensler.

Tons of tires- 175 tons, to be exact- once littered the river’s edge, along with the old barge.  Photo courtesy John Preotle.

Story updated 4:15PM Thursday, August 30, 2007

– Allison Goldsberry

Ten years after Medford, Malden, and Everett decided to do something with shared brown field land on the banks of the Malden River, the old industrial site is transforming into a mixed use development with a park, a boathouse, office buildings, and housing.

Gone are 350 tons of rubber and tires, even an old, partially submerged barge stuck into the riverbank.  Gone is the old moniker, Telecom City. 

In their place are a brand new park and a boathouse for the Tufts crew teams, who prefer the quieter, yet dirty, Malden River to the cleaner but more crowded Charles River.

And leading to it all is a new road, not too long ago called Corporation Way, but now, according to new banners, referred to as River’s Edge Drive.

According to Preotle, Lane, & Associates’ Harry Bovee, developer John Preotle has spent more than $1 million cleaning up the site, removing 800 tons of trash, including old appliances, abandoned cars, and 175 tons of rubber left over from an old shoe factory.  Ten thousand shrubs, forty benches, and over 100 trees have been added to form ten acres of public green space along the river.

“We really did improve on the park enormously,” said J.P. Shadley, one of the project managers.

Mayor Michael McGlynn said the park was impressive and complemented Preotle for his “stick-to-it-ness” with the barren land after ten years on the project.

“Anyone who’s been down here has been impressed with what they’ve seen,” said McGlynn.

Malden Mayor Richard Howard concurred.

“It’s spectacular.  It’s a tremendous accomplishment.  Great carry-through of the vision,” said Howard.

The park will serve as the backdrop for three office buildings and one residential building, the latest plan for the site that still needs to be approved by the tri-city board.

According to project architects, the buildings will be designed in light colors with lots of glass to provide a soothing, reflective backdrop for the landscape.

The four proposed buildings are the first phase of the project and all are on Medford’s side of the river.

A public hearing will be held on the plan at Medford City Hall at 9AM on September 12.