May 10, 2024
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Waltham North to be demolished by the end of March

Abatement team needed to remove asbestos

By Tom Collins
Waltham North School is coming down. Wednesday, the Waltham school board authorized Superintendent Kristi Eager to begin the demolition process on the roughly 70-year-old school, which has been vacant since 2019.

Waltham North School will come down by the end of March. Wednesday, the Waltham school board learned demolition will begin anywhere from Feb. 20 to March 24. (Tom Collins - tcollins@shawmedia.com)

The process of demolishing Waltham North School has taken longer than the district had hoped — and the job might not be finished until late March.

Wednesday, Waltham Superintendent Kristi Eager delivered an update on the fate of the district’s vacant school on North 33rd Road. Though the board approved a demolition contract shortly before Halloween, the building still is standing.

Eager delivered a lengthy explanation for why. First, an abatement team had to take out the asbestos, which has been done. Now, the utilities need to be disconnected and advisory letters sent to the neighbors. Then, demolition will be done anywhere from Feb. 20 until March 24.

“No wonder people just leave buildings,” quipped board member Nicole Mertes.

As previously reported, Waltham’s new school rendered Waltham North and South obsolete. Waltham South has been sold; Utica repurposed it into a municipal complex opened Wednesday. Waltham North is being razed so the cleared parcel can be sold. The demolition contract was awarded to Fowler Enterprises LLC of Elgin for $156,250.

In other matters:

  • Eager pronounced the mid-year financials in “really good shape.”
  • The board scheduled a committee of the whole meeting March 9.
  • The next regular meeting is set for Feb. 16.