Combined Properties redevelops one community’s so-called “sow’s ear into a silk purse”

Earlier decades of industry and manufacturing have left some properties as brownfields: environmentally degraded, contaminated with heavy metals, organic and inorganic chemicals, petroleum constituents, and containing dilapidated buildings and debris. Typically, brownfields are abandoned, idle, or under-used properties, where expansion or redevelopment is hindered or complicated by real or perceived environmental conditions. The redevelopment and restoration of one such site in our Greater Boston community became the focus of one of Combined Properties’community initiatives.

Along the banks of the Malden River, there existed a 4.6 acre brownfield site with industrial infrastructure that had been idle since 1996, when a German firm, Rohm Tech, closed one of its plants. Under the management of this company, the site was used for chemical processing, coating and latex manufacturing. In 1999, Combined Properties initiated steps to turn this industrial eye sore into a desirable commercial space. We coordinated efforts with Rohm Tech to simultaneously clean the site, improving the environmental quality of the land and water, while working to redevelop the infrastructure into a facility that the surrounding community would benefit from. Completed in 2001, the once abandoned site with degrading industrial structure, is now a state-of-the-art 76,000 square foot office building that is an amenity to the community. Both the land and water quality of the site has been greatly improved, a contemporary office building has replaced the abandoned structure, and the future use of this facility is much cleaner than the former industrial uses.

Today, efforts continue to improve the quality of the sub-terrain component of this site. There is a shed on the banks of the river that houses pumps and equipment for the remediation of the sub-pavement land mass. This is supervised by the Department of Environmental Protection and will be completed in 3-5 years, at which time the shed will be removed. In the meantime, the shed does not interfere with the use of the building.

Combined Properties is interested and actively engaged in the revitalization of the Malden River and surrounding areas. With further development, the riverside in this area will be turned into an esplanade that will be accessible to the public.