Young Building To Be Demolished Saturday On Moody Street

WALTHAM, MA — Crews will be taking down the old Young Building on Saturday.

The city approved funding $239,000 for the demolition of the Young Building near the corner of Moody and Maple to make way for a new Moody Street fire station late last year.

"Demo is one day, but we are also not minimizing that. We know that it's [on a] Saturday. That's a big business day," said City Councilor Cathyann Harris, who added any business owners concerned about potential impact should contact her.

While neither Moody Street nor Maple Street were expected to be closed to traffic or pedestrians, both streets may be reduced to a single lane during the demolition.

Pedestrians should look for a detour in the area, which the city councilor said would be clearly marked. Look for fliers along the lower part of Moody Street to remind residents as the week presses on, she said.

Saturday's demolition, followed by seven to 10 days allotted for debris removal marks a milestone for the project that has been in the works for years, said Harris during a press conference Tuesday.

"It really is for the future of firekeeping in the south side," she said.

In the days leading up to the demolition, watch for a fence to go up around the building, which has been pre-baited with mouse and rat traps. The demolition will start sometime after 8 a.m. and will take place most of the day.

After the building is demolished and the debris is cleared, the city will send out construction bids in March. Those will start to come back and the city will have a clearer sense of just how much the project will cost in April, according to the mayor.

"The last major construction on this site was in 1986 or 1987, aside from some work to repair the floor a few years back," said Mayor Jeannette McCarthy.

McCarthy thanked the councilor, the multiple committees and the fire chief for their work on the project.

"It's very important to have a new station," she said.

The plan is to add four complete new bays all with extra large bay doors to accommodate two ladder trucks - something that's currently not possible. The existing building is going to be gutted and rehabbed. During that time, the city will rent a house that firefighters will call home base until renovations and construction are completed by the end of 2020 or early 2021, the fire chief said.

"That is our hope," he said.

The Moody Street Fire Station was built in the 1800s, when firefighters drive to the fires via horse-drawn carts. City Councilors say that firefighters tell them on hot humid days you can still smell the horses. For years, the city has talked about how to best upgrade the historic station that they say is severely outdated.

Catch up here:

• First Look At New Moody Fire Station Project
• New Moody Fire Station Project: City Approves Funds For Demo

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Photos and video by Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff