City Council Postpones Discussion on Taking Former Malden Hospital by Eminent Domain

The City Council recently postponed having a discussion about the possibility of taking the former Malden Hospital by eminent domain.

During a Sept. 3 session in the Council Chamber at Malden Government Center, Councillor John Matheson asked to have the item tabled until more information could be gathered for the discussion. The council unanimously voted to table the item until their next meeting.

The eminent domain topic was raised by Councillors Craig Spadafora and Matheson, as they believe the 21-acre Hospital Road site needs to be improved upon, especially given the fact the hospital has been shuttered since 1999.

Hallmark Health Corporation, which currently owns the old hospital property, once had a deal in place to sell the hospital to Deaconess Abundant Life Communities of Concord, but it fell apart in 2009, according to a report by the Boston Globe.

"For the last several years we've given Hallmark every opportunity to market the property, they've been trying for over 10 years now without success," Matheson told the Globe. "Our feeling is that all options have to be on the table. Right now it isn't going to any public benefit."

The parcel, which has views of Boston and abuts Fellsmere Park, could be developed into single family housing, green space or other projects that would be useful for the public, Matheson told the Globe. 

Past Report on Former Malden Hospital by Chris Caesar

The former Malden Hospital - owned by Hallmark Health System - has been in a state of limbo after an effort to build a senior-living center on the property crumbled with the economy in 2008. 

The hospital, which closed in 1999, still had some power running through it when Flickr user Jvelmar - first name "Jonathan" - took his camera into the facility to explore it in 2009. The hospital has since had new precautions installed to prevent such entry, including a chain-link fence along its perimeter and padlocks on entrances.

The renegade photographer has entire sets of albums dedicated to his explorations of abandoned buildings, and took shots of the property three years ago.

"I've tried to contact the representative from the new property owners several times, both before and after my entry. I did get in touch with someone, but they stated no one was allowed to go in," he wrote in a message.

"I went by one day to find the door unlocked, and went right in the front door calling for security. I took this time to take the few photos you've seen."

Check out Jonathan's gallery here, full of weird graffiti and other damages to the hospital.