Medical Building Still Empty-July 8, 1977

The medical office building located at 480 Washington Street, built in 1959 for $80,000 by a group of local physicians, has remained unoccupied for nearly a year, drawing criticism as an “empty eyesore.” Despite the ongoing expansion of Norwood Hospital and a documented demand for medical office space in town—evidenced by recent interest in a proposal at Walpole and Fisher streets—the Washington Street property has struggled to attract a buyer since it was acquired by the Mass. Bank & Trust Co. of Brockton in September 1976. The bank has reportedly listed the property for $350,000, a figure that industry observers suggest is prohibitively high.

The building’s history is marked by shifting fortunes. Originally constructed to fulfill the professional dreams of Dr. John F. Kelly, Dr. Roy Lydon, the late Dr. Nelson Hepburn, and local optometrist Dr. Martin J. Lydon, the facility was designed with flexibility in mind. Dr. John F. Kelly noted that the structure was built to allow for potential second-floor additions and internal reconfiguration. However, the original physician group found themselves struggling with the administrative demands of the property, leading to a financial loss. The building was first placed on the auction block in 1971. In the years that followed, it housed a variety of tenants, including doctors and the state Department of Welfare, before eventually falling into its current state of disuse and vandalism. Opinions regarding the structure remain divided; while Dr. Kelly defends the initial design, others who participated in the original planning process characterize it as poorly laid out, with inefficient lobby and corridor space.

The building currently contains eight office units, each featuring three rooms on the first floor, alongside unfinished basement space. According to assessment records, the property carries an assessment of $210,000 for the building and $84,500 for the land, which spans over 84,000 square feet and abuts the Old Parish Cemetery. While Building Inspector John Grover reported no formal complaints regarding the building’s structural condition, he holds the authority to condemn or secure the property should it pose a hazard. As the structure continues to deteriorate, the burden of potential future costs, including the possibility of razing the building, could fall upon the town.

In other municipal business, the Norwood Conservation Commission approved a project to install new drainage pipes on Margaret Street to mitigate long-standing flooding issues. Town Manager John P. Mogan explained that the project involves installing an 18-inch drain pipe that will discharge into Purgatory Brook. Simultaneously, the Norwood Veterans Council publicly congratulated the Jaycees for successfully organizing the July Fourth parade, putting to rest any lingering friction over the transfer of parade management duties. Finally, Norwood Hospital announced it has received a two-year accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals, an achievement Hospital Administrator David P. Buchmueller noted as a validation of the facility’s high standards of care.

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger