Mayor Christenson Announces Deal between Mystic Valley Regional Charter School and Tenants

Special to The Advocate

  Mayor Gary Christenson has helped reach an agreement between Mystic Valley Regional Charter School and the tenants of a building it purchased last year. The compromise prevents the immediate displacement of the tenants and provides them with the time and resources necessary to relocate. The agreement also provides the charter school with a clear timeline for when the building will be vacated.

  “This agreement staves off the looming threat of eviction while ensuring that these tenants – our neighbors – have sufficient time and resources to find new homes. The City’s new Office of Housing Stability will continue to support these tenants by assisting them in their housing search, a service that is available to Malden residents experiencing housing insecurity,” said Mayor Christenson. “My Administration is committed to bringing people together to keep our community housed, and I am pleased that the charter school, the tenants, and our nonprofit partners were able to work together to reach this compromise.”

  The agreement is the result of talks between Mayor Christenson, Community Development Director Alex Pratt, Mystic Valley Regional Charter School, the tenants, and three nonprofit organizations: City Life/ Vida Urbana, Housing Families, Inc., and Greater Boston Legal Services. The City of Malden’s new Office of Housing Stability will provide additional assistance to the tenants to help them transition into new homes. Residents can learn more about the Office of Housing Stability at www.cityofmalden.org/housingstability.

  “Thank you so much to Mayor Christenson and Alex Pratt for mediating the collective bargaining negotiations between the Maplewood Square Tenants Association and the charter school to ensure that none of the tenants and small businesses will be displaced from Malden,” said Katie McCann, Community Organizer for City Life/ Vida Urbana. “We appreciate your commitment to working toward greater housing stability in Malden, and your support for tenant organizing and advocacy that makes housing stability possible.”

  “Today’s agreement is representative of Mayor Christenson’s all-in commitment to affordable housing, and we are tremendously grateful for his leadership,” said Heather Van Orman, an attorney with Housing Families, Inc., which operates the City’s Office of Housing Stability. “Housing Families was proud to advocate for these tenants, and will continue to support them by providing housing search services.”

  We are pleased that the parties were able to come to a resolution and appreciate Mayor Christenson and Alex Pratt’s willingness to facilitate as mediators and work to ensure that these community members are not displaced from Malden,” said Molly Broderick, an attorney with Greater Boston Legal Services. “We know that this is part of a longer term mission of ensuring that all Malden tenants have access to safe, stable, affordable housing and are encouraged by the City’s commitment to working with the tenant organizing groups with the same goals.”

  “Mystic Valley Regional Charter School is grateful for the invaluable assistance of Mayor Christenson and Alex Pratt in resolving the Maplewood tenant issues,” said MVRCS Board Chairman George Warren. “This agreement fairly addresses the concerns of all parties.”