The City of Chelsea has announced plans to renovate its aging City Yard, a building that has served the community daily since 1976 but has not been significantly updated in 50 years. To engage its residents in the process, the City invites the public to witness first-hand the current state of the building and view proposed upgrades by attending one of its community open houses being offered this October.
The City Yard is a vital public facility that supports the operations of Chelsea’s Department of Public Works (DPW). It houses essential DPW personnel, tools and equipment for park maintenance, road and sidewalk repair, trash collection, building maintenance, traffic control, and water and sewer system management. The site also serves as the central site for emergency and snow response operations while the mechanics shop maintains a fleet of 180 vehicles for DPW, Police, Chelsea Public Schools, and other departments.
Today, the building lacks a fire suppression system and suffers from leaks. It has water damage, rusting and crumbling restrooms and locker facilities, small rooms, inadequate storage, and narrow hallways. On top of these issues, the interior spaces have poor ventilation, which means low air quality for its 39 employees, and completely lacks facilities for female employees.
“The city’s needs have grown and the City Yard’s services have expanded over the last several decades,” said Chelsea DPW Commissioner, Cate Fox-Lent. “However, the facility itself has not kept pace and lacks some essential safety features. To ensure it remains functional, safe, and capable of supporting our staff and community for decades to come, it’s critical that we renovate the building to meet modern standards for safety and functionality.”
The open houses will take place on:
• Tuesday, October 7, at 12:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 8, at 2:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 14, at 6:00 p.m.
Proposed renovations include:
• Creating a large multi-purpose meeting and lunch space by combining small storage and break rooms to better serve Sidewalk & Street staff.
• Upgrading restrooms and locker rooms and to include future facilities for women employees.
• Establishing a dedicated locker room and meeting space for the Water & Sewer Division.
• Creating access to loft storage areas in order to better utilize the limited space.
• Installing weatherproof doors, windows, and roofing to preserve the building’s integrity.
• Implementing energy-efficient heat pumps for improved climate control and ventilation.
• Introducing a fire suppression system throughout the building for the first time.
The City Yard is located at 380 Beacham Street in Chelsea. The renovation project could begin in spring 2026.