Could Malden Move the DPW to McFadden Manor?

Could you see the Malden DPW opening shop at the former McFadden Manor site?

Some city councillors expressed tentative interest in the idea during the public property committee's review of city hall relocation bids Tuesday night.

While specific details were not made immediately available to the press, Councillor Neil Kinnon described the proposal as a land swap with a local property-owner - a potential alternative to purchasing new property that could save taxpayers millions.

Kinnon described the parcel as “very similar” to the Boston Steel site at 490 Eastern Ave., an alternative proposal with a $4.3 million price tag.

McFadden Manor is slightly larger - 2.5 acres to Boston Steel's 2.1 - and is assessed about half-a-million dollars more in value. Both properties would require an unspecified amount of renovations before opening.

Two additional proposals were also received by the city council, though details were not made available Tuesday.

“It's early...but this seems to show significant savings for the city,” Councillor Jim Nestor said. Councillor David D'Arcangelo agreed.

But Councillor Barbara Murphy, who represents the property and its abutters in Ward 5, said such a change would come only “over her dead body.”

“McFadden Manor has many homes closer” to the site than Boston Steel, Murphy told her colleagues. “To me, this is not a reasonable location.”

Another major difference? The Boston Steel site sits on Route 60, near the center of the city, while McFadden Manor is perched on the Melrose/Malden border near Forestdale School.

The councillors, noting they had received the proposal just before Tuesday's meeting, cast a unanimous vote to review the proposals for further discussion

What do you think of this idea? Where would you like to see the city's DPW/Engineering yard?