Deteriorating Memorial Hall Set For $2.3 Million Face Lift

MELROSE, MA — Memorial Hall is set to get an expensive face lift. The City Council voted unanimously to authorize a bond for $2,311,205 for building repairs at Thursday night's Appropriations Committee meeting. The request will move to the full Council, where it is expected to pass.

The city wants the 108-year-old Memorial Hall to undergo repairs to the building envelope, including a full roof replacement, fixing stairs and restoring or replacing doors and windows. The repairs have been one of the city's top priorities in its Capital Improvement Program.

A report from Russo Barr Associates highlighted numerous issues with the interior and exterior of the building.

Inside, the G.A.R. hall, kitchen and auditorium are all showing cracks on the ceiling or walls, including missing ceiling tiles in the kitchen and peeled paint around auditorium windows.

Outside, some windows that have been with the building since 1912 no longer work and don't prevent water leakage. Some of the doors won't open without "considerable force" and also don't prevent water leakage.

The report also recommended a full roof replacement, saying some areas are "soft, indicating water infiltration," and that the front entrance stairs may "not have an adequate foundation."

Read the full report and see photos below.

Councilors, many of whom shared fond memories of Memorial Hall both as children and adults, were in support of the repairs.

"An investment in Memorial Hall is an investment in our community," Councilor Cory Thomas said.

Councilors noted the need for more preventative maintenance going forward, not just at Memorial Hall but all city building projects, to curtail the need for major investments.

The last time Memorial Hall had any work done to the exterior was in 2002, when it was finally introduced to air conditioning and had its heating system upgraded. The roof was replaced in the late 1990s — City Planner Denise Gaffey said it hasn't lasted as long as the city hoped.

Councilor Mark Garipay asked about the project's timeline. Gaffey said it would be "somewhat ambitious" to complete the project by end of year, but getting to work as soon as possible would be helpful since building use is severely limited during the pandemic.

The project received loud support from community organizations that often hold events inside Memorial Hall and a number of residents who wrote to their Councilors.