Old DPW Building to Be Torn Down

Temporary Structure Will be Built On-Site

The city DPW building after a suspicious blaze destroyed the building last year. Photo by Jimmy Morse of JimmyMorse.com.

– Allison Goldsberry

An historic building that housed Medford’s Department of Public Works will soon be torn down, following a suspicious fire that destroyed the building last March.

The city is receiving $1,711,980.60 from Liberty Mutual to cover the cost of tearing the building down, creating a temporary structure such as a trailer, and creating a new building. Additionally, $500,000 of the insurance money will cover loss of property consumed by the fire.

Mayor Michael McGlynn said a new DPW building will be built on the site.

According to information submitted by the Mayor to the City Council, the depreciation on the building was valued at $542,738.47. Under the terms of the city’s insurance policy, if Medford spends $542,738.47 toward the construction of a new city yard or for the replacement of the building, it can recover an additional sum from Liberty Mutual, which can not exceed the depreciation figure of $542,738.47

A suspicious fire destroyed the building, which also housed the Italian American Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8, in the early morning hours of March 21, 2009. The historic building is located at 27 James Street, in behind Mystic Avenue.

A city-owned vehicle and trailer with a compressor were stolen when the fire broke out. Ralph E. Smith, age 46, of Revere, was arrested soon after the fire and was indicted in August on charges of arson, larceny from a building, and larceny of a motor vehicle.