Malden Seeks Members For Courthouse Redevelopment Advisory Committee

MALDEN, MA — Efforts to redevelop the old Malden District Courthouse on Summer Street as a community arts center are moving forward.

The city, along the way, is now seeking applicants for an advisory committee tasked with overseeing the project.

Malden Mayor Gary Christenson announced plans to create the Malden Center for Arts and Culture Advisory Committee on Monday. The committee will include seven Malden residents asked to work with the city to “ensure that the redevelopment and future operations of the Malden Center for Arts and Culture remain consistent with the vision and values for the space” set out in a concept plan earlier this year.

Anyone interested in applying for a three-year term on the committee can send a cover letter and resume to city Senior Planner and Policy Manager Evan Spetrini at espetrini@cityofmalden.org. Cover letters should state why an applicant wants to serve on the committee and what expertise an applicant would bring to the group.

Applications must be received before Jan. 5.

The courthouse has been largely shuttered since 2019, when an initial temporary closure for construction turned into a more long-term closure and a decision to decommission the courthouse.

Municipal officials have eyed the now vacant building in the years since, moving to acquire it from the state.

Gov. Charlie Baker eventually signed legislation allowing Malden to acquire the courthouse in August.

Writing this week, officials said they expect to complete the acquisition in the coming months.

Malden held a community input process through a city steering committee to ultimately generate a concept plan over the summer focused on redeveloping the courthouse as a community arts and culture center.

READ: Malden Shares Concept Plan For Courthouse Redevelopment

“The Malden Center for Arts and Culture will be a memorable destination for performing and visual arts for Malden residents and visitors,” a project mission statement adopted by the steering committee reads. “The building will be a hub for creative practice and community engagement and create a warm and inviting atmosphere where everyone feels welcome.”

Possible uses could range from youth recording and music production to theater and dance performances.

“The space will be a dynamic center of creative activity in Malden,” the steering committee’s mission statement continues.

The city's concept plan detailed options to use a mix of grant opportunities, tax credits and fundraising to to pay renovation and reopening costs. City officials, though this process, have looked for ways to then balance the costs of the arts center's operations with its revenue streams in once it is, indeed, operational.

Under current plans, the city would select a nonprofit operator to run the center.

The newly announced city Advisory Committee would help select the nonprofit. The committee would then handle reviewing the chosen nonprofit periodically.

The Advisory Committee would also receive updates during redevelopment itself, making recommendations on topics including design, fundraising and community outreach, as noted in the mayor’s announcement this week.

City officials on Monday said the selected Advisory Committee “will be reflective of Malden’s artistic and cultural diversity.” As such, officials are encouraging artists and cultural leaders — especially ones with knowledge of arts facilities — to apply. Officials are also encouraging young people, BIPOC community members, and immigrants to apply.

Chosen members must attend quarterly meetings, likely on weekday evenings.

Individuals involved with organizations that are planning to submit a proposal to be the nonprofit operator of the Malden Center for Arts and Culture should not apply for membership on this committee, the city said.