Governor Patrick Tours Downtown Malden

Governor Deval Patrick toured transit-oriented housing and economic development opportunities in downtown Malden Wednesday morning.

Patrick took the Orange Line in and was greeted by a citizen who said he was the "best governor since Michael Dukakis." The governor thanked the man and moments later began his tour from outside Malden City Hall around 9:30 a.m.

Mayor Gary Christenson guided Patrick and city and state officials around Malden Center. The mayor discussed with the governor how developers plan to invest an estimated $300 million on various development projects in the downtown area.

Meanwhile, the Patrick Administration has also played a role in trying to improve Malden and nearby communities when the River's Edge, a 30-acre span that includes Malden, Medford and Everett, was designated a Growth District in 2009. The River's Edge District has received $540,000 in grants to develop nearly 100,000 square feet for commercial real estate and also to build 222 housing units.

During the early part of the tour, Patrick visited with construction workers and developers at the 150 Exchange St. project site, which involves constructing a pair of six-story buildings with a total of 210 market-rate apartments and about 2,000 square feet of retail space. 

As part of the tour, Patrick saw the Residence at Malden Station, which will be the site of a five-story building with 80 high-end market rate apartments and an estimated $20 million has been invested in the project.

Sen. Katherine Clark, who represents Malden, joined Patrick midway through the tour.

The governor also made a brief stop at the My Little Friends Early Learning Center.

The roughly hour-long tour concluded with Patrick meeting with Chef Roberto Niubo and his wife, Maybi Torres, owners of Oyá Cuban Café on Exchange Street, where he and other officials enjoyed Leche y Leche, a coffee from the Canary Islands. 

Outside the cafe, Patrick spoke briefly about his visit to Malden and the development projects underway in the city.

"...It's a wonderful example of how a modest amount of public investment can spark a tremendous amount in private investment in restaurants (and) in housing," Patrick said, adding how convenient the Orange Line is to Maldonians currently living in the area and how it will benefit those who eventually move into the affordable and market-rate buildings being developed. 

Check out our video and photos from Patrick's visit to Malden on Sept. 25.