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First phase of Columbus Center cleanup set for September completion by Ashley Rigazio
MySouthEnd.com ContributorWednesday Sep 2, 2009 MTA says trees won’t be replaced on Cortes Street until ’decision has been made about the project’
The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (MTA) is spending $100,000 to clean up the site of the delayed Columbus Center development, and officials expect the first phase of safety and aesthetic improvements to be complete by the end of the month. But, don’t expect to see trees lining Cortes Street quite yet.
"The cleanup work should be done in a few weeks," MTA spokesperson Adam Hurtubise told South End News. But, he added, "We’re not going to be replacing the trees until a decision has been made about the project or the parcel."
Hurtubise did not know when that decision would be made.
Construction on the project-which is largely owned by California investors and has several consultants attached to it-came to a halt in spring 2008, but debris and fencing still lingered, and damage to the area’s greenery, including the destruction of 24 mature trees on Cortes Street, was already done.
The MTA’s six-week cleanup effort aims to level the site, plant grass, and remove chain-link fencing and leftover construction materials. The $100,000 used to clean the area will be paid for upfront by the MTA, which hopes to recover the funds from developers in the future.
Both South End residents and politicians have become increasingly critical of the 14-year-old proposed development, but many are encouraged by the MTA cleanup under way.
Resident Ned Flaherty, a neighbor of the site, has been studying the Columbus Center development since its conception, accumulating 15,000 pages of public records on the complicated proposal.
"It’s nice that someone finally is starting to restore these seven acres," said Flaherty.
While encouraged by the MTA’s work, Flaherty noted that a majority of the restoration has yet to be assigned or scheduled and offered a less-than-enthusiastic prediction.
"The most likely outcome is that either the restoration will never finish, or else Massachusetts taxpayers will have to pay for California’s damage," said Flaherty.
When contacted by South End News after the MTA said it would move forward with cleanup efforts two weeks ago, Carolyn Spicer, a spokesperson for the development team, had no comment. Efforts to reach the development team for comment on Wednesday were unsuccessful.
On Tuesday, 3rd Suffolk State Representative Aaron Michlewitz gave the MTA credit for taking a first step toward addressing residents’ safety and aesthetic concerns.
"I’m very happy the Turnpike has decided to step up to the plate and start some of the reconstruction of the area, especially along Cortes Street," said Michlewitz, noting that cleanup at the site was one of his "primary objectives" upon taking office in June.
"It’s a shame that it’s come to this and the developer hasn’t decided to move forward with the reconstruction of the area," he continued. "It’s been a blighted area. ... To be stuck in this limbo for such a long time has really been a strain on the community and the people who live around the area."
Still, local politicians believe proper and timely development of the site can stimulate economic growth and generate tax revenues.
Menino commented on the project following a campaign stop at Rosie’s Place on Monday.
"We’re trying to either get it moving or replace all the stuff that was there," he said. "We’ve got to get all the players together-the state, the city, the feds. This is a good economic opportunity for us."
Menino said that the project could possibly be phased in and completed on a smaller scale than originally planned. He added that developers must "take into consideration the folks who live there and what kind of effect it will have on their quality of life. That’s very important, because they’re coming into their neighborhood. ... There should be minimal obstruction."
Michlewitz said his beleaguered constituents living in the area are just happy to see any progress. But, he stressed, this is just a first step toward making the Columbus Center site viable.
"My theory has always been that it’s time to start from square one on this development, and it’s time to look at other development to go in there," said Michlewitz. "While the community has spent lots of time and energy on this development, it is obviously going nowhere the way it stands right now."
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