If anyone came to the recent West Newton Cash Mob approaching from the east on Washington Street, you may have noticed some new plantings, which came about thanks to a CDBG grant, administered by the West Newton Advisory Committee working with the Planning & Development Department. I’m not really familiar with the mechanics of how it worked, being just a spectator to this, but am quite happy it happened.
Greer or Ted (or Sal if he blogged!) could better elaborate, but essentially there was CDBG funding for this target neighborhood, and the WNAC wanted to improve the aesthetics of this rather barren stretch of Washington Street east of West Newton Square, by planting trees on the north side of the street, and something to screen the view of the Pike on the south side. They worked with Marc Welch to identify planting spots and possible species.
The view is particularly stark as you come out of the southbound side streets
(Cross, Parsons, etc.) Trees were not practical on the south side of Washington due to limited space along the chain link fence, so they went with lots and lots of evergreen shrubs, and I believe vines – not sure they’re in yet – which will hopefully withstand the road salt and get nice and tall.
There are now 15 trees planted, I believe equal numbers of American Elm ‘Valley Forge,’ ‘Harvest Gold’ Lindens, and ‘Skyline’ Honeylocust. I’m especially happy to see an American Elm in front of the Armory, where a pair of large lindens were lost in a couple of storms.
@Julia, thanks for noticing the landscaping improvements along Washington Street in West Newton. As you noted, these plantings are funded with federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds which were allocated for improvements in the West Newton target neighborhood. Previously, CDBG funds were used to create the greenway/park along the Cheesecake Brook which runs through this same target neighborhood that is bounded by Brookside Avenue, Washington Street and Watertown Street. The intent was to provide shade trees along Washington Street and a green screen along the Mass Pike/MBTA Rail corridor in West Newton. All of the plantings are in, including the vines which are expected to take off in the Spring.
Thanks go to the volunteer members of the West Newton Advisory Committee, participating residents of the target neighborhood, the landscape architect, planning department, the landscaper, and the Mayor’s office. At the risk of leaving someone out, I want to recognize WNAC members and/or residents Tim Techler, Sarah Arcese, Nancy Blueweiss, Amanda Annis, Dan Pike, Bob Kitteridge, Robert DeSantis, Patricia Milano, and Jane Thompson, landscape architect Blair Hines, past and present Planning Department staff James Kupfer, Lauren Williams, Anne Marie Belrose, Alice Walkup and Danielle Bailey, Tree Warden Marc Welch, the landscaper Dayo Construction, City Procurement Officer Nick Read, Mayor Setti Warren, who (with a little encouragement from me) cut through some red tape to get this project done, and the business and property owners on Washington Street, including among others Trader Joe’s, for agreeing to help care for some of the street trees. (To anyone whose name I failed to mention, please accept my apologies. But please do take credit.)
This almost did not happen because the low bidder on the project underbid and then refused to honor its contract. As a result, at one point it appeared this project would not be completed until next Spring if at all. There is always a risk that CDBG funds can be lost if they are not used within a specified period so this was a critical problem. Thankfully, the planning department was able to push this through to the goal line by going back to the second lowest bidder and, after consulting with the Attorney General’s office, he head of procurement, the law department and the Mayor’s office, was able to negotiate a successful contract with the landscaper. Fortunately, we have benefited from unseasonably warm weather and all of the trees, bushes and other plantings, which are guaranteed by the landscaping company for one year, went in this Fall. In addition, a developer who received a special permit to build a commercial building where Barbour’s Market is located will donate a street tree in front of that property.
I am very grateful to everyone who made this project possible and saw it through to the (not so bitter) end. To everyone else, please come down to visit the neighborhood this coming Spring to see the changes, and to enjoy our beautiful greenway/park along the Cheesecake Brook off of Eddy Street.
Newton Corner‘s CDBG Advisory Committee funded $25,000 worth of trees in our neighborhood in FY 2011! Additionally, the Newton DPW recently completed the restoration of the Nonantum Place Playground in the Charlesbank neighborhood by rebuilding the retaining wall and putting in an iron fence. We hope the neighbors take advantage of this beautifully restored park. It is a treasure to kids living in Charlesbank and the North side of Newton Corner. More pictures are coming, but for now we thank the Mushes at Newton DPW for their excellent excavation and creative wall-building skills! :-)
Ted, thanks for all that info! We also benefited from nice soaking rain the lady couple of days.
Janet, I’ll have to Google “mushes” – never heard that one.
@Julia,
A “Mush” is a guy. A “Jivel” is a girl. The words come from a language spoken mostly in Nonantum with it’s origin in Romanian language. Many stories have been written about this language that is very unique to that neighborhood. Go down to “The Lake” and ask any mush you see and I’m sure they will be happy to explain it to you!
What worries me about the south side of Washington Street is the lack of a sidewalk. The shrubs are a nice screen, but the folks trudging home from the bus, who don’t want to jay walk and are just trying to get to a legal crosswalk at Chestnut St–where do they walk now, the parking lane? There’s a reason Washington Street has the highest average number of crashes in the City. I just hope they won’t be car/pedestrian.
Trees belong in Vermont.
Andreae, the WNAC worked with the planning department, which reviewed this project in consultation with other departments before it was approved. Presently, as you note, there is very little room between the curb and the chain link fence owned by the state for a sidewalk (less than 4 feet and blocked by existing trees and bushes in some places). Having commuted downtown by bus for many years, I am quite familiar with the challenge of crossing to and walking on the south side of the street. Beyond the target neighborhood (on the other side of Brookside Avenue), the border between the state’s property and the curb is wider and it is safer and easier for pedestrians to walk between there and Lowell Avenue. But from Brookside Avenue west past Trader Joe’s and the Armory, there is little or no room for pedestrians as it is and over the past sixteen years I have seen few pedestrians brave enough to walk along the south side in that area (although on occasion I would walk from the bus stop to the train station in West Newton if I missed my bus).
The city has been looking at putting Washington Street on a “road diet” to address some of the issues you raise, specifically by reducing the number of lanes, creating left hand turn lanes, adding bike lanes and using bump outs and neck downs to calm traffic and make the road safer for pedestrians to cross and walk. An example is the intersection of Lowell Avenue and Washington Street, where right hand turn lanes were eliminated using a bump out, which shortens the distance pedestrians have to travel (this intersection of course has a traffic and pedestrian crossing light). Eventually, I would like to see two lanes (one in each direction) plus left turn lanes all along this section of Washington Street, a narrower road with sidewalks on each side and bump outs or neck downs that shorten the distance pedestrians have to travel and calm traffic on Washington Street. All of this requires planning and money, which the city does not have right now.
You may have noticed that the recently planted landscaping along Washington Street in West Newton is looking pretty rough. Last night, the West Newton Advisory Committee, which recommended CDBG funding for neighborhood improvements in this area, including the landscaping to screen the railroad tracks and Masspike, met to discuss this project.
Happily, the CD planners told us they have been meeting with the landscaping company that did the work, the landscape architect and the city’s urban forestry director to review the condition of the work done and remediate damaged or dead plantings. The work is guaranteed for one year and here is what the landscaping company has agreed to do:
Bayberry Plantings: as a whole the Bayberry plants survived the winter well, despite the appearance of the brown leaves. The contractor will trim back the dead tips so that the plantings look nicer.
Vines: Most of the vine plantings survived and have started to grow. 7 vines were dead. The contractor will provide 4 pots of Baltic Ivy and 3 pots of Trumpet Creeper.
All the shade trees on the north side of Washington Street appear to be in good condition. The Contractor will provide “gator bags” when he comes in next week.
Red Cedars (Juniperus virginiana): As a whole the Red Cedars look poor. All plants show significant scorching and desiccation damage. Of the 99 trees installed, very few look in good condition. The Director of Urban Forestry and the CD planner noted that most of the trees that are not designated for immediate replacement will likely need replacement because they will not be showing the 75% active growth required in the specifications. The Red Cedars will be reviewed in early July to see which have shown sufficient vigor and regrowth to be acceptable. The Contractor will replace trees that are rejected in July immediately. For now the Contractor agreed to the following:
• Trim bottom of brown junipers
• Replace 48 Junipers as soon as possible – tentatively, the contractor stated that he would make the replacements in late May.
• All plants need extensive watering, a water schedule to be submitted to James.