Whatâs the Center Streetscape Project?
If youâve walked, biked or driven around the Town Center anytime since Patriotsâ Day, youâll know itâs impossible to miss the large portions of Mass Ave. sidewalks once again occupied by construction crews and machinery. The Town is continuing the Center Streetscape Project, which began last year after about a decade of design and public process.
The projectâs goals include: Renewing the mid-century landscape, improving pedestrian safety, accommodating bike traffic and making sidewalks and crosswalks more accessible for people with disabilities. The project scope comprises resurfacing roadways, replacing trees and installing new lighting, seating and bike racks. The Town has contracted with engineering firm BETA Group, Inc. and construction company I.W. Harding to complete the project.
Whatâs the projectâs current status? When will it be done?
The project has a timeline of two years overall, and is currently about halfway done. The first phase of construction was completed last fall, including new concrete, brickwork and benches in several areas; successes of last yearâs work include the pace of construction, brickwork quality and lighting improvements, Town Engineer John Livsey said in a video update on the project. Work in the two current zones of construction is expected to continue throughout most of this month (and you can view the Townâs interactive map of current construction zones here). Throughout Center Streetscape construction, âwe still expect to have a minimum of two lanes of traffic open at all times,â Livsey said.
âWe expect this construction to be substantially complete this construction season,â he added, meaning âby 2023, the construction crews will be gone, and youâll be able to enjoy a more vibrant and accessible downtown.â
What are those black plastic things the Town is installing under the sidewalks right now?
Itâs a modular suspended pavement and irrigation system called a Silva Cell; it helps âsupport large tree growthâ and manage stormwater flow. Among other things, the system can relieve tree roots of pavement weight while facilitating healthy root growth and allowing room for lots of lightly compacted soil.
What does this project mean for local businesses in the Center?
In its communications about the Center Streetscape Project, the Town has consistently stressed that businesses, including direct abutters, remain open. âBuilding a project in a live environment and keeping it open is very difficult⊠that cooperation [from businesses] is critical, and very much appreciated,â Livsey said.
How are businesses handling the ongoing project a couple weeks into its latest phase? LexObserver spoke with employees at four local establishments directly abutting current construction.
General impacts
The construction impacts Sweet Thyme Bakery because customers donât know theyâre open, according to Chris, an employee â the sooner itâs finished, the better, in his view.
On the other hand, Tim, a long-term manager at Marioâs Italian Restaurant, has been pleasantly surprised so far by the lack of impact to the eatery. Despite concerns going in, âit really hasnât affected our business too much,â he said.
Joyce Karvelas, a night manager at Via Lago, said the construction especially hampers business from elderly customers. âI do think it impacts usâŠwe have a lot of elderly folks here, and if they can’t park out front, they’re not going to come in at all,â she said.
Still, since the construction has only just started, âwe havenât seen a big impact,â she added. âWe donât really know yet.â
Joel Belbin, manager at Abbottâs Frozen Custard, said it has not been ideal for construction to begin just as the weather warms (though spring is a standard construction season). âIt is definitely negatively impacting our business,â he said. âItâs a shame that it happened right upon summer, the beginning of May â which is supposed to be our busiest time as an ice cream shop, as you can imagine.â
This round of construction comes after the pandemic has already struck a body blow to many businesses, including Abbottâs, Belbin added; âItâs been tough for Abbottâs as a whole â we had the pandemic, and we just keep hoping for one good summer, and now we have this construction on usâŠItâs kind of a bummer.â
Chris almost wishes the Town had moved ahead with construction earlier in the pandemic, when there was less foot traffic anyway; now, âitâs a little bit hard,â he said. They want to cooperate with the Town, but donât feel like they have much say in what happens, Chris added.
Outdoor dining impacts
In the fall, construction did not impact Via Lagoâs outdoor dining, according to Karvelas. This year, itâs another story. âWe do have a lot of people asking us, when are you going to put the tables outside for service?â Karvelas said. From the construction estimates, she hopes to be able to do so early next month, âbut who knows when thatâs going to happen.â
Despite the current inconvenience, Karvelas acknowledged that there could be worse timing, too; âweâre kind of glad theyâre doing it now and not in the middle of June and July, when people really want more outdoor dining,â she added. âWe just want it to be done soon â so I was glad to see them out there working in the rain [Wednesday].â
Tim of Marioâs is impressed with the pace of construction: âThe speed that theyâve come through here is phenomenal,â he said. Thatâs a relief because, like Via Lago, Marioâs was âconcerned about losing our outdoor dining â and it looks as though we may have it before the seasonâs over at the rate theyâre going.â
Mostly good communication
âThe Town has kept us up to date through most of the phases of the construction process â they actually notified us in advance, which is good,â said Tim. He talks to the supervisor of the construction all the time, and thinks the people doing the construction âare great to deal with.â
One example of their speed of work and collaborative demeanor alike: About two weeks ago, an elderly woman using a rolling walker came into Marioâs through the front door for lunch, to avoid the stairs on the back entrance. âIn the short time that she was here, they took up all the sidewalk to the point where she was unable to get out on her own,â Tim said. So everyone pitched in to help her leave safely: âThe construction guys and myself and the police, we actually all assisted her â we stopped traffic, we cleared a path to get her out onto the street and we walked her around to the crosswalk itself.â Overall, âthe communication with the guys has been great.â
Belbin has appreciated Town communication, but doesnât think itâs been perfect. Similar to Timâs experience, âa couple of weeks before it [started], the foreman came to me personally and said, âWe’re going to be doing this project,ââ which was helpful. He also provided information to receive weekly project updates, Belbin recalled. But Belbin has not found those updates âparticularly usefulâ so far, and he has not received other information he would have liked; for instance, when both streets forming the corner Abbottâs sits on were blocked off one day this week, âthat wouldâve been nice to knowâ in advance, he said.
Understanding the Townâs goals
Will the construction be worth it? âI certainly hope so,â Belbin said. He can see the need for the project; âThe bricks in front of our doors particularly are loose, and I have one patron that comes in every day in a wheelchair â it’s tough for them to get in and out,â he said. âIf they make an advance on that, I would say it would be worth itâŠIt could have been better timed for us particularly, but you can’t help how things go.â
Karvelas understands and agrees with the goals of the project; she believes it will be worthwhile for the Town once completed. Tim of Marioâs also believes the construction will be worthwhile for the Town âin the long term,â he said. âWe’re kind of sad to see the trees go when everything comes down, but you’re replacing utility lines and doing a lot of work that is really going to make a difference 10, 20, 30 years out.â
How community members can help â stop by
âCome in,â Karvelas said. âEat dinner here; eat breakfast here; eat lunch here.â
Any kind of advertisement from the Town is helpful, Belbin said, which the Town has provided physically and online â Tim expressed appreciation for billboards beside the construction sites listing open businesses.
Belbin echoed Karvelas: âWe are open; we are here.â Abbottâs also plans to launch a delivery and catering website within the next week. âJust come by and see us,â Belbin said.
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