Long-term plans for Fernald

This week, the City Council requested a formal update on the construction at the former Fernald State School land.

The request came during a discussion about the fate of the former Lawrence Elementary School, which sits on the border of the Fernald property. Councilors this week voted to knock down the current building to accommodate plans for a public hockey rink on the site.

“If you are committed to the hockey rink … tear [Lawrence Elementary] down and let nature do its thing. Let it be open space, let the trees grow in and merge it with the rest of 200 [Trapelo Rd.],” said Ward 5 Councilor Joey LaCava.

Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy reiterated an offer to seek out interest from private companies who might use the building for housing. Councilors declined, citing the building’s poor condition and limited transit access.

McCarthy said she hasn’t received any formal requests from municipal departments interested in using the Lawrence building, but will ask around before putting it on a demolition list.

Councilor-at-Large Emma Tzioumis argued it would be easier to make determinations on the site with a fuller picture of other city construction projects around the Fernald, and requested a formal update on their progress.

Waltham bought the Fernald land in 2014. It was formerly home to the country’s oldest publicly funded school for people with developmental disabilities, whose treatment of residents left a heavy legacy for the city to reckon with.

Since then, progress has come in fits and starts over disagreements about how to use the land and further damage to its buildings. In the past few years, however, the city opened up its first public facility on the site — a universally accessible playground — and has been taking down some buildings, working on other recreation facilities, planning a new Department of Public Works headquarters, and considering a proposal for a veterans’ housing development.