Abandoned buildings are an eyesore and a fire hazard. I hope Mayor Christenson has a plan to address this particular building.

This is very disturbing since years ago when this site was for sale, my kids were in the charter school and the school was the highest bidder for the site yet Hallmark Health bypassed the school and gave it to the group who allowed this to happen. I wonder what the neighbors who fought against the school think of the results of their efforts? We were crushed as this would've been a more cohesive campus than the many far flung sites the school inhabits now. What a shame on so many levels.

Malden Hospital was built by Maldonians who donated money, land and equipment. Many of them worked there. Malden really needs a hospital, and its vital to restore it. Now Malden residents have to seek health care in the Boston area, while the building, where for decades was located one of the suburban best hospitals, slowly deteriorates.
Commercial projects can be built somewhere else, but health care institution is a necessity.

Annie the residents near by didn't vote against the school. We voted against the apartments and condos they wanted to build. If you want real outrage look up the taxes being paid for that huge parcel of land by Hallmark Health. How does that happen?

Land was bought by Maldonians for the hospital. Land and all the buildings belong to the city. It's a shame that hospital that was created in order to provide health care is closed and now continues to deteriorate.
Not everyone can drive somewhere for emergency, X-Ray, visit to primary physician, etc.
Hospital should be restored and used according to the purposes of its creating. There are many places in the city that can be used for school, elderly housing, condominiums or something else.

As much as I am bothered that the property has yet to be redeveloped I am more disturbed that this "renegade" photographer broke the law and tress passed on private property!!!

The photographer showed what was done to the hospital that was built by Maldonians and well served them for over the century.
You should be bothered by the fact that it was closed and now is deteriorating, and that there is no health care institution in the city.
In this case photographer's trespassing is in instrument in opening residents eyes, illustrating what you had and what you lost.
The hospital need to be restored if you want to have a health population.

For the uninformed the former hospital has been used extensively over the last few years and still is I may add by many local LEO agencies and local FD's for training purposes. Pretty sure they all had authorization and permission to enter and use the property. Did this "renegade" photographer have permission to enter and take photographs? Also if memory serves I believe a few movies including "Edge of Darkness" used the property for filming scenes.

You should see beyond the getting money for the place.
All you can speak about is sale or redevelopment.
People' health is much more valuable and important. Many Maldonians had to spend hours in waiting rooms of other hospitals, in getting there, and even emergency cases can be no warrant for immediate help because there are too many patients already waiting.
You can be indifferent to this problem but it can be vital for you too sometime.
Maldonians founded a hospital when the city population was a few times smaller than now. But it looks like they were much more wiser.

it was created with the sole purpose to provide health care for the people.
Now nearly 60,000 residents have no such service in the city.
All talking about sale or redevelopment just ignores the fact that city was left without one of its most prized and necessary possessions - the hospital.
We can unproductively discuss legal aspects of making photos of abandoned and vandalized hospital building.
What is more important how the hospital that was built on the residents money and equipped due to their donations became the "property" of the corporation that didn't invest anything in its creation, development, etc. Why it was closed? And where is it its very expensive equipment?

Maldonians should wake up and stop to 'float down the stream."
We can learn from those who lived over hundred years ago.
They found money and strength to build a hospital.
We can find means to restore what they created instead of arguing over trespassing.
You can sale your legacy or redevelop it, but seeking profits today no matter what can lead to the doomed future. Such large city as Malden needs its own hospital, otherwise it will also deteriorate.

Even low income or transient residents deserve to have health care. They should not be discriminated because of their situation.
The restoring of the hospital will bring benefits to the whole city population.
When we speak about the health care, it should not be all about money, because, actually, its against the major physician rule coming from the ancient times: to treat the patient, not to empty his/her valet.
However, there are ways to find a solution, Including cutting the health care service' prices that are enormous.

Money-making has nothing to do with real HEALTH CARE. In many countries (such as France, Norway, Sweden, UK, Switzerland, Japan, etc.) health care service is subsidized by the governments, and its quality (less malpractice cases, less deaths) is much better. In many of these countries physicians are paid for the treatment' results, not for the number of patients went through their offices.
You can say that here is different situation. You can find explanations for every unfair decision, but it can't change the fact that people have to get treatment in their home city. Otherwise you'll get even worse situation. Now Malden already has the highest in the state percentage of those who suffer from heart diseases, diabetes, STD, etc. And don’t forget high level of deaths, too.
Malden has potential for improving its economic situation, and, thus, for financing its own health care facility. It all depends on city residents and their will to find a solution for the problem.

Li Maldonians whether destitute, disabled,poor,middle class,or wealthy have health care options in this city. You doctors offices at 195 Canal St operated by Cambridge Health Alliance, there is doctors offices located at 178 Savin St adjacent to the hospital operated by Hallmark Health(who I believe owns the former hospital property. There are doctors offices in the Professional Bldg. at 380 Pleasant St. You have pediatric/ob/gyn doctors at 105 Commercial St. If you are seeking emergency care however then you need to head to Mel/Wak, the Whidden(ugh), Lawrence Memorial, or the Boston hospitals. As much as we would like a fully functional and staffed hospital back in Malden it is not to happen soon if ever.

Li, I agree with you in principle, but the reality with health care in our country is totally different. Our government is so broke right now, that just being able to find subsidies in the budget for the most vulnerable segments of our population is a miracle.
You can say what you want about finding a solution to the health care crisis in this country, but should you and I really be paying for someone else who cannot afford her medical care?

Yes. It's called "civilized society". And anyway, we already do (and not just for the poor, we subsidize plenty of people who could afford to pay their medical bills and just don't), might as well do it in a way that benefits everyone.

Has it really been closed/empty that long? I remember taking a babysitting class in the building sometime in the early-mid 2000s when it was called the "Malden Family Health Center". Was that only a portion of the building?

Malden Family Health Center has been across the street at 178 Savin for as long as I personally can remember, but it may well have been at the old hospital prior to that. I think I do remember some office space inside the hospital being open after the hospital itself had closed.

I just did a little google research. I was wrong, it was at "Malden Medical Center" and I went in 2001. So though the Hospital closed in 1999, it was still occupied until at least 2001 when the medical center closed.

I was born there. Shame to see it in disrepair.

Detailed info about the hospital on Malden Observer site (Opinions)
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES The Malden Hospital, then and now
http://www.wickedlocal.com/malden/news/opinions/x1793846239/HISTORICAL-PERSPECTIVES-The-Malden-Hospital-then-and-now

As well as the police training, there were several movies filmed in the location. The Arabic writing on the walls and the horribly mangled room in that area were for the short movie "Talking Room". (See it in its 10 minute entirety here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoZnPan3qPw ) Most likely the owners were more inclined to use the building for these as they would have paid for their use. Photographers, on the other hand, don't have thousands of dollars to throw at the owners just to walk around and take pictures for a completely non-profit cause.

It does say that the photographer went in calling for security by the way. What it doesn't say is that there was a sign on the front door saying "Security on site" with their phone number. However, after quite a few phone calls, security never answered.

I also wonder what problem "Howard the Duck" has with photographers... There is a such thing as an ethical photographer. One who may push a boundary, but does no harm, isn't a problem like thieves, vandals, and especially scrappers.

People like me look for buildings with significance. Old schools, hospitals, big businesses, etc. On the day Malden Hospital was only one of the multiple places that were thrown on a list by family and friends who wanted to see pictures of it.

I live on Murray Hill Road and the mice and rodents are abundant. I am afraid of what is living inside the building , if these critters are going out for a walk. Scary and unhealthy. The board of health should be called. If you look around the property there are many large black boxes to catch rats. One way in and no way out.