Planning board approves Volunteers of America plan for 12 veterans units at 105–105A Salem Street

The Malden Planning Board voted Oct. 8 to grant Volunteers of America Massachusetts (VOA Mass) a special permit to rehabilitate 105–105A Salem Street and create 12 studio apartments for veterans, 10 of which will be reserved as affordable housing under the city’s inclusionary zoning rules.

Volunteers of America representatives, including Matt Lane (vice president of real estate) and Charles Gagneux (president and CEO), described the nonprofit’s experience operating veterans housing across the region, its wraparound supportive-services model, and the organization’s goal to pair housing with services such as housing specialists, employment supports and recovery coaching. Gagneux told the board, “We are committed to really making a significant investment in 105 Salem Street,” and said VOA Mass had met with neighbors and elected officials in advance of the hearing.

Project architect Michael Whitmore presented site plans and revised parking and landscaping drawings prepared after city peer review. The proposal converts a roughly 2,000-square-foot existing building on a 9,996-square-foot lot and provides 12 parking spaces (including a van-accessible ADA space) to meet the one-space-per-studio requirement. The design shifts parking to meet stall-size and maneuvering standards, adds landscaped “green” areas that will also serve as snow storage and minor stormwater mitigation, and retains and repairs existing fencing along the property line adjacent to residences.

Planning staff’s report noted the site is in the Residential Office zoning district and that the proposal creates and increases several preexisting nonconformities (density, open space and yard setbacks). The inclusionary zoning rules require a minimum number of affordable units when eight or more dwelling units are proposed; VOA Mass proposed 10 affordable units, exceeding the ordinance’s minimum. The Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development provided a compliance letter and a memorandum of understanding on affordable unit obligations that were incorporated into the record.

City peer reviewer BSC Group reviewed a requested waiver from a traffic impact study and recommended conditions; the petitioners revised the site plan to add low plantings in the Salem Street sight triangle and to coordinate with the city on a proposed “no parking” sign near the Salem Street exit. The planning staff report recommended approval provided the board made required findings and listed conditions addressing plan conformance, maximum units and bedrooms, preservation of the affordable-unit obligations, landscaping, repair of privacy fencing, petitioning the traffic commission for the no-parking sign, visual and acoustic screening for rooftop mechanicals, prohibition on permanent dumpsters (trash to be stored in lidded totes in an enclosed area and serviced by a private hauler), and a minimum of eight bicycle parking spaces.

Board member Eric Henry moved to approve the special permit subject to the conditions discussed; the motion included adding the western property line at 6–10 Holden Street to the screening condition. The motion was seconded and the board voted to grant the permit with the conditions. Project representatives said construction would likely take about 18 months, with occupancy anticipated in mid‑2027, and that VOA Mass would provide regular community updates during construction and a resident manager on site daily to support tenants and neighborhood communications.

Letters of support from the mayor, city councilor Ward 4, neighborhood residents and local organizations were entered into the record; no written opposition was presented. The planning department will require compliance with the inclusionary zoning memorandum of understanding and submittal of marketing, lottery and affordability-preservation documents prior to occupancy.