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Waltham committee urges recreation, housing, cemetery for Fernald property

E-mail|Link|Comments () Posted November 9, 2009 07:49 PM

By Jessica Rudis, Town Correspondent

A city of Waltham committee is suggesting several potential uses for the massive Fernald Developmental Center when it closes, including recreation space, a new city cemetery, housing and a health care facility.

In draft reports released Monday night, the city's Fernald Re-use Committee listed several options for the property, which encompasses some 200 acres, 71 major buildings and 14 other structures. Subcommittees of the group examined historical, environmental, infrastructure and other implications of the closure.

The state wants to start closing Fernald, the nation's oldest public institution for the mentally retarded, in 2010. See a photo gallery of Fernald here.

The recreation subcommittee urged that at least some of the property be converted into a "comprehensive recreation facility which would serve as a cornerstone and gateway for North Waltham.'' The subcommittee said the city of Waltham assume control of Fernald's Greene Building for recreational uses such as bowling, gym rentals, and sports.

The historic subcommittee urged that the historic buildings at the facility be restored, but urged that buildings with no historic significance be demolished.

Another subcommittee, which reported on infrastructure, said that all of the property's infrastructure was "problematic'' and noted that there was asbestos and hazardous material at the facility. "Proceed with caution, funding is an enormous task,'' a summary of the infrastructure subcommittee said.

Mayor Jeannette McCarthy released the draft report Monday night and scheduled a public hearing for Dec. 3. She reestablished the Re-use Committee earlier this year, after it appeared the long legal fight over Fernald's future was drawing to a close.

She said that the draft report was not a final set of recommendations, but were options to be discussed in December. "At this point, it's not the final recommendation of the Re-use committee, '' McCarthy said.

Last year, Governor Deval Patrick reaffirmed his predecessor's plan to close Fernald and relocate its remaining residents by June 2010. As of this spring, there were 152 residents at the facility. The US Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal to keep it open.

The state owns the land but the city can have some leverage in zoning.

Find a map of potential uses here: Download file