More on Cedar to Lowell Community Path clearance

[ron_newman]

Following up on this post, here's a ResiStat message from Stephanie Hirsch, and a private e-mail followup from Steven Azar:

From: "Stephanie Hirsch" <shirsch@somervillema.gov>
Date: October 8, 2009 7:11:39 PM EDT
Subject: [Ward5resistat] More Information on Clearing of the Community Path Right of Way

Hello all -

There were a number of follow-up questions about the e-mail on the Community Path clearing. I tracked down some answers and wanted to send them along.

CONTACT PERSON: Steve Azar, one of the City's senior planners, is the contact person for the project. He can be reached at 617-625-6600 x2561 or sazar@somervillema.gov.

WHAT THE PROJECT IS: This is both the start of the process to clear the building at the MaxPak site and the start of clearing the future community path right of way. One of the construction conditions developed by the City and the community calls for the site to be accessed via the current rail right of way in order to better handle traffic flow. The developers are responsible for removing the ties and rails. Also, one of the most pressing reasons for doing the work was to address concerns raised by residents and the Board of Aldermen about the significant overgrowth and public safety.

WHERE THE WORK IS BEING DONE: It is along the closed rail spur that starts from where the current Community Path ends. It is the unused right-of-way between Cedar and Lowell Streets.

ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION: Demolition of the site will require environmental remediation as well.

DEMOLITION TIMEILNE: We do not have a date for the start of demolition of the building.

WHEN WILL WORK BE DONE: The work will continue during the weekends until it is complete. At this point, we do not have a timeline for the completion.

We will send more updates as they are available.

Stephanie
_______________________________________________

From: "Steven Azar" <sazar@somervillema.gov>
Date: October 9, 2009 11:06:32 AM EDT

> Do you know when the removal of tracks and ties will start?

Stephanie,

The developer is finalizing their contract with the demolition
contractor. The removal of the rail ties is included in the Scope of
Work currently under review. Work is anticipated to start early
November. The removal of the rail ties is expected to be one of the
first items to be completed.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Steven

Comments

[pjmorgan.livejournal.com]

Being an abutter, I can say they've really managed to clear alot of vegetation. It was cool to watch the contruction truck carry a huge tree in its hands like a child clutching a toy. I look forward to the ties going, because that represents progress on the bike path extension, easier to visualize it. I'm curious to know when the demo of the property will happen and when construction might begin, but I guess nobody knows now? Is it possible they'll do demo or construction with the winter coming on?

I took some photos of the clearance and of the truck carrying the tree, if anyone can tell me how to post those here...

[ron_newman]

Post them to flickr or photobucket or imageshack, then link to the photos here.

[pjmorgan.livejournal.com]

Here are my photos, unfortunately its with a camerphone so you can't see the truck carrying the tree that well, but in any case it gives an update. Unfortunately I don't have any before pictures, but I'm sure those are on the internet somewhere?...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43509601@N05/?saved=1

[ron_newman]

Thanks. That will make the tracks walkable again. Too bad there's no longer a way to climb up to Lowell Street. (The old bridge had a gap in the fence where a footpath climbed up to meet it. The new bridge doesn't.)

[pjmorgan.livejournal.com]

Hopefully this will change when Maxpak is completed. They have to have a way for the Lowell street access cars to get to Lowell Street, so hopefully a bike ramp will be there too. I think they see the value of the bike path in their development.

[ron_newman]

Indeed, but that's still some time away. I don't think it will have a separate bike ramp, but bikes can share the new street they will build up to the bridge.