Residents are invited to the Department of Public Works (DPW) facility at 470 Dedham Avenue on Sunday, April 27th and on Sunday, May 4th for tours at 1 pm and 2 pm. Staff guided tours of the facility will last approximately 45 minutes with time reserved for questions from the public.
The intent of the tours is to allow community members to see the existing conditions of the building prior to May Annual Town Meeting. A capital funding request for a $19,600,000 appropriation for the expansion of the Jack Cogswell Building will be voted on at Annual Town Meeting. The expansion of the Cogswell Building, located at the Recycling and Transfer Station, would allow DPW to house the Town’s Fleet Services Division which is currently at the 470 Dedham Avenue facility. This division provides maintenance and repair services to all DPW vehicles and equipment, and provides vehicle assistance and support to other Town departments.
The latest iteration of the DPW Complex Master Plan identified the numerous deficiencies of the 1950’s DPW building at 470 Dedham Avenue and other DPW facilities, and recommended a strategic phased plan to address the problems. The Cogswell Building expansion is the first phase of that plan. This facility housed Operations staff during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Master Plan identified it as the ideal location for the Town’s fleet maintenance facilities, which consist of six Town staff and their operations. It will also include locker rooms, break rooms and staff offices.
For additional information on this project, please refer to the DPW Complex Master Plan that was approved by the Select Board in 2023 and the FAQ's on the Public Works Facilities Improvements. For questions please contact DPWadmin@needhamMA.gov.
