New facility shows Devens prioritizes zone’s public safety

As the main driver of the Central Mass. economy, Devens has demonstrated a knack for attracting a variety of businesses that take advantage of its fast-track permitting process.

And in a few years, Devens will have a public-safety facility commensurate with its responsibility to protect those valuable commercial assets as well as the residents that call this economic development zone home.

Recently Massdevelopment, the state’s developmental finance agency and land bank, hosted federal, state, and military leaders for a walk-through of the future Devens publicsafety building, a $20.8 million initiative that will bring all local public-safety operations under one roof.

Subsequent to its groundbreaking in October, the project, which has a summer 2025 completion date, will create one facility to house the Nashoba Valley Regional Dispatch District, the Devens Fire Department, and the State Police, which provides police services.

State and U.S. legislators, Massdevelopment officials and Devens Reserve Forces Training Area officials attended the walk-through on Nov. 28.

“This facility looks to the future of Devens by bringing all of our first responders under one roof and delivering improved public safety services for our residents, employers, workforce, and visitors,” said Dan Rivera, former Lawrence mayor and current Massdevelopment president and CEO.

Massdevelopment plans to convert an underutilized, agency-owned building at 270 Barnum Road into a state-ofthe-art public-safety center for the Devens area, which the quasi-public agency envisions as a mixed-use community that stimulates the local and state economy.

The building, which previously housed a day-care facility and private elementary school, has been partially vacant since 2019.

Nashoba Valley Regional Dispatch District, which serves Devens and five other communities, currently occupies a small portion of the existing structure.

Once completed, the refurbished 30,745-square-foot fullservice public safety building will include features such as a new apparatus bay to house fire and ambulance vehicles, modern living spaces for firefighters, and an exterior tower to provide more opportunity for regular training exercises.

The new building will also feature solar panels and electric charging stations to help reduce the environmental footprint.

The current fire station at

182 Jackson Road was built in 1965, with an addition added by the U.S. Army in 1987 to accommodate larger fire apparatus. Still, it’s too small to meet the needs of the current fire department, with several pieces of firefighting equipment stored outdoors or at other locations due to space constraints.

The Devens improvement plan constitutes just one of hundreds undertaken annually by Massdevelopment, which financed or managed 545 projects in fiscal 2023 alone.

Chelmsford’s free tow a holiday gift to get overserved

It may not be a get-out-ofjail-free card, but it’s one call that will prevent you from being a danger to yourself and others.

Anyone who over-imbibes while in Chelmsford this holiday season can again opt for a free and sober ride home, thanks to a partnership forged by the Chelmsford Police Department, Chelmsford Police Athletic League and Christopher’s Towing.

From now until New Year’s Day, anyone who consumes too much alcohol at an in-town establishment or residence can call the Chelmsford Police (978-256-2521) or Christopher’s Towing (978-452-7433) to receive a free ride and a complimentary tow of their car to any location within the Merrimack Valley.

Now in its eighth year, the program, titled “Tow Drunk to Drive,” was created with the goal of getting tipsy drivers off the road during this toasting time of year.

“Impaired driving doesn’t just endanger the impaired driver. It endangers everyone on our roads, including families that travel for the holidays,” said Chelmsford Police Chief Colin Spence. “I am grateful to Christopher’s Towing and the Chelmsford Police Athletic League for once again partnering with us in an effort to keep our roadways safe this holiday season. I encourage anyone who has had too much to drink to be responsible and take advantage of this service.”

No questions will be asked of those who take advantage of the service, which will be available 24/7. Christopher Ferreira, owner of Christopher’s Towing, stressed that vehicles must be operable to qualify for the service. That prevents people from trying to get a free tow for their broken-down car.

“You know that’s going to happen, and it has happened,” Ferreira said.

The service started in 2015, after Chelmsford Deputy Police Chief Gary Hannagan contacted Ferreira about ways to combat drunken driving around the holidays. It quickly caught on.

Ferreira, who grew up in the tow industry, has witnessed the carnage left by motorists driving drunk.

“When people drink and drive, the bad decision they’re making is not only affecting them … It’s a chain reaction,” Ferreira said.

In keeping with the holiday spirit, Tow Drunk to Drive goes beyond offering rides to potential drunken drivers. For each car that’s towed, the Chelmsford Police Athletic League will donate $20 to a meaningful local cause.

So, at least in Chelmsford during the holidays, the more tows, the merrier.