Malden board approves variances for proposed seven‑story Salem Street development with off‑site parking condition

The Malden Board of Appeal voted Wednesday to grant multiple variances sought by Alpha Business Center LLC for a proposed seven‑story mixed‑use development at One Salem Street and 15 Ferry Street, but conditioned final approvals on the developer securing off‑site parking leases and committing to transit and bike‑sharing incentives.

Attorney Roberto Demarco, who represents Alpha Business Center and said he is a Malden resident, told the board the project responds to a long‑running, difficult site and that the applicant proposes 73 total units — one ground‑floor commercial unit and 72 residential units intended for ownership rather than rental. "15 Ferry will be removed. It will be remembered," Demarco said, adding the team would include commemorative design elements drawn from the historic building they propose to demolish.

The project's architect, Will of KDI Architects, described a roughly 52,000‑square‑foot building with about 2,500 square feet of ground‑floor commercial space, residential floors composed primarily of one‑bedroom and one‑bedroom‑plus units, roof terraces and a green roof. He also described an automated car‑stacker system for below‑grade parking and dedicated bicycle rooms. "This will be a net‑zero building," Will said when describing energy goals.

Board members pressed the applicant on parking, traffic and density. The applicant said the design includes mechanical car‑stackers and that the on‑site plan has been described variously during the hearing; the architect described 52 below‑grade stacked spaces and a surface lift area for an additional 11 vehicles, while later statements in the hearing and by staff referenced 52 on‑site spaces versus the zoning requirement of 73. The applicant told the board it is negotiating an easement for access through the municipal lot and will contract for a new traffic engineer to respond to outstanding comments in the city's traffic‑study review.

The board separated four relief requests for individual votes. It first approved usable open‑space relief unanimously. It next approved a density variance 4‑1, with Board Member King voting no. The board approved relief related to parking‑space dimensions 4‑1. Finally, the board approved the request for relief from the zoning requirement for the number of on‑site parking spaces by a 4‑1 vote, attaching the condition that the applicant seek long‑term off‑site parking leases to make up any shortfall between the developer's on‑site supply and the zoning requirement and that the project promote alternatives including MBTA passes, bike‑sharing and other shared‑mobility supports.

Bill Bilgan, a member of the Board of Appeal, made the motions on the relief items; votes were recorded with Bilgan, You, Freyo and Kramer in the majority on the contested items and King dissenting on density and parking votes.

Board and staff members noted that because the project exceeds six stories it will also require a special permit and review by the Malden City Council, which will evaluate impacts such as massing, density and detrimental effect on the zoning district. Staff said city council review focuses on the same detrimental‑impact considerations and that final approvals will depend on subsequent reviews and any required permits.

The board's approvals do not themselves authorize demolition or construction; they clear the way for the applicant to pursue the special‑permit review at city council and to finalize details, including parking agreements and traffic‑study responses. The board adjourned at 7:19 p.m.

Notes on inconsistencies in the hearing record: transcript exchanges contained differing numerical references to parking (the applicant described both a two‑tier count—52 below grade plus 11 surface lift spaces—and later statements and staff references that described 52 on‑site spaces versus the zoning requirement of 73). The board recorded its approvals based on the application and the conditions it set; applicants will need to document final parking arrangements for subsequent permitting steps.