Malden Hospital Owner 'Not In Discussions' About Charter School

MALDEN, MA — The owners of the vacant Malden Hospital site have not decided what to do with the property but say they have no plans to turn it into a housing development, nor are they involved in "discussions related to a charter school development."

Lori Howley, executive director of MelroseWakefield Healthcare, wrote in a recent letter to the community that the healthcare provider is still evaluating options for the property. The 17.6-acre site, which has been vacant for 17 years, sits on the Medford-Malden line and has views of the Boston skyline.

"At the start of our re-evaluation process, we heard clearly the concerns and ideas from the community related to any plans for the site," Howley wrote. "They included hopes for a smaller physical footprint of any building development, expansion and preservation of open space, consideration for the aesthetics of the surrounding neighborhood, and a reduction in traffic generation over previous plans."

A previous plan to build a 250-unit complex at the site fell through in 2019. At the time, Some nearby residents raised concerns about traffic issues and losing open space, and the Friends of Fellsmere Heights expressed interest in applying for Community Preservation Act funds through Malden and Medford.

Plans for the site then took a backseat to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We have remained focused on ensuring that our patients and communities remain safe, including providing vaccination and testing, and sharing important information on how to stop the spread of the disease," Howley wrote. "As a result, we have not shared updates with the community on the planning for the Malden Hospital site for quite some time."

Howley said MelroseWakefield will "re-engage" with the community this fall as it considers options for the site.