MALDEN — The cities of Medford and Malden will get together to determine the future of the shuttered Malden Hospital.
Located on 17 acres on the Malden-Medford line, the hospital land is one of the region’s largest development sites. But so far, none of the construction proposals have been approved.
Vacant for nearly 20 years, the building is empty and dilapidated. Pledges to retain emergency room services and later outpatient healthcare were never realized.
Ward 3 City Councilor John Matheson, whose district includes the hospital, recently won unanimous approval by the Malden City Council to establish a panel to investigate development options.
“We need a community vision on the development of this site and it has come to all parties affected by the decision that eventually gets approved,” he said.
Most of the land is in Malden, while its western border overlaps the Malden-Medford city line.
Matheson said a key step for the Malden Hospital Site Development Committee will be to arrange a summit between leaders and interest groups from both communities.
“We want the mayors of both communities involved in this, we want all members of groups such as Friends of Fellsmere Pond and others to weigh in on this issue,” he said. “What we need is a new solution to an old problem. With more input comes new opportunities.”
Matheson’s preference is for open space and he was encouraged by the recent report of the Malden Open Space and Recreation Committee which found 65 percent Malden residents say protection and expansion of open space in Malden is a high priority.
“Malden residents have made it loud clear that preservation, protection and increasing the amount of open space is extremely important to them and to the city’s future,” he said.
