Demolition Starting On Unsafe Malden Building

MALDEN, MA — Demolition has started on 1 Salem Street, a building that was found to pose a serious public safety threat after months of review and an independent structural analysis. Drivers are asked to avoid the intersection of Salem, Main and Ferry Streets starting Thursday and continuing into the weekend.

Pedestrian and vehicular traffic will be impacted, police said. The area should be avoided this weekend.

Malden had been monitoring the deterioration of 1 Salem Street since May 2018, when the building was deemed to be dangerous and unsafe. The owner was ordered to evaluate the exterior facade and protect the sidewalk.

The property owner filed a notice of intent to demolish the building, and the case was referred to the Historical Commission. The Commission requested an independent evaluation of the infrastructure, which was funded by the property owner and determined there were significant public safety issues posed by the building.

At the time of the Historical Commission's initial review in May 2019, temporary shoring of the facade was already in place to protect the public sidewalk and street. Over the course of the Commission's review, the city installed proper professional shoring, sidewalk and street protection and ordered the building vacated on Nov. 21, 2019.