First Look At New Moody Fire Station Project

WALTHAM, MA — The city recently approved funding $230,500 for the demolition of the Young Building near the corner of Moody and Maple to make way for a new Moody Street fire station. Watch for crews to move in and take down the building in the weeks to come. But what will the new building look like?

The fire chief and Ward 8 Councilor Cathyann Harris released an early rendition of the Moody Street station design Monday.

"We've been to dozens and dozens of meetings and of renderings, and we've finally come up with an exterior rendering right now that we can release that we believe is going to be a great addition to the South Side," said Fire Chief Thomas McInnis.

"It's a much-needed addition," he said. The current station doesn't accommodate the size of new fire trucks.

The plan is to add four complete new bays all with extra large bay doors. The exhisting building is going to be gutted and rehabed. 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.

So far, about $330,500 has been earmarked for the planning of the project and the demolition of the Young Building.

At this time it's still early days when it comes to how much the entire project might cost the city, officials said.

"It's important for people to understand the total cost of what this project is, and we will definitely get there, but to project numbers right now without the design fully vetted would just be throwing numbers out there," said Harris.

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 For years, the city has talked about how to best upgrade the historic station that they say is severely outdated.

The full press conference from the Fire Department Headquarters:

Catch up here:

New Moody Fire Station Project: City Approves Funds For Demo

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Photos and video by Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff