Ashmont T Station

Not knowing the results before you ask the question

This piece caught my eye because of the way that people spoke about the modern house in this article.  It's very refreshing to hear what some of these people learned about their ideal house when they got a chance to think about it  See for yourself. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/13/garden/13who.html

Preserving a Modernist Way of Life

A nice piece from the NYT on simple houses that used to be built on the Cape.  Summer houses tend to be much larger these days, more to compensate for maybe.

August 27, 2009 *Preserving a Modernist Way of Life * By SARA RIMER Cape Cod Modern House Trust was formed to preserve significant Modernist architecture on the outer Cape, beginning with a decaying cottage built in 1970.

Ashmont Body Count = 12

The busway was paved yesterday! A great day to lay asphalt, though not for the guys doing the work. The asphalt looks ok, though the edges at the street area little rough. I hope they fix that. Since the paving is complete, today's body count only applies to the site guys working at the North Plaza. I included the worker in white chinos and the golf shirt out of incredulity more than anything else. I'll try to take pictures of our new aircraft carier size busway tomorrow. 

Next up: finish package

Ashmont Body Count

I had about 28 guys on site on Wednesday morning, only two guys visible on the busway.  Overall, a HUGE turnout It might have been coincidental but there were several elected officials coming to the site yesterday. 

MBTA Reaction to Herald Article

[This is not the kind of answer a public agency should submit after a newspaper article.   The response needs to be one of action rather than repudiation. - Chris]

Ladies and Gentlemen, 
 
Thank you for making the time to attend the update meeting last week on the finishes contract.  I appreciate our continued productive dialog and working relationship. 
 
With regard to Mr. Stanley's request to hold a public meeting to discuss the elements of the finishes contract I will repeat what was discussed at the recent SMAMs meeting and at our meeting last week.  The finishes are the same as were included on the original design negotiated by the MBTA Design dept. and the Ashmont Advisory Committee and Barbara Boylan in 2003-4.  The one significant change is that the platforms were replaced (rather than restored) and the new design is not tiled as the T has found platform tiles to be a maintenance and safety hazard (slipping when wet, and they pop out).  The fact that the finishes are unchanged was pointed out eloquently at the SMAMs meeting by Chris S. and Jim (? I've only met him that one night).  The finishes contract will be bid shortly and when a contractor is selected this fall and we will have a public meeting to review its scope and duration then.
 
I was discouraged to see the negative Herald article, especially the quotes by Chris Stanley.  As co Chair of the Ashmont Advisory Committee nobody has been closer to the development, design, and construction of this project, attending countless coordination meetings over the last decade and dozens with the project directly over the last four years.  I am truly sorry he is so disenchanted with the project.  This is and remains a great investment in the community which will last for generations and forever change the face of Peabody Square.  The fact that a 5+ year timeline goes to 6 (6 months behind) when the scope expands so significantly, and you need to maintain transportation to over 16,000 daily commuters through the site, could not have been completely unexpected.  Particularly when stakeholders were updated as regularly as they have been.  Add that a 7 story mixed use development (the Carruth BLG) was constructed on the same site at the same time ,and I think its fair to expect some bumps along the way.
 
Anyway,  My thanks to you all.  I am on vacation for the next few weeks (excepting an evening meeting on Radford Lane on the 27th),  and we will get the finishes meeting scheduled when I return.  If you have any project problems in the interim call the hotline 617 222 6757, or email Kay at CConnolly@MBTA.com
 
Thanks and I hope you all continue to have a great summer, Joe

Amenities 2

The MBTA is planning on installing the concrete base for the moon statue and there will be water and electrical hook-ups out there, somewhere.

Looking South

Late commute in the morning. Station looks good. Aside from smelly port-a-potty backed up next to the platform. Roof steel is painted and this is starting to look like a real train hall.

Photos of Station Construction

At last, the entire inbound platform is open. It's a nice space.

Some Finishes

Brave New World at Peabody Square

The machines that knocked Ashmont Station this weekend were the heralds of a great transformation for Peabody Square.  In the coming months, amid the churned concrete and clots of dirt a new station will slowly (very slowly) be built. The south part of the station will come first with a new terminal for the Mattapan trolley (let’s drop the high-speed nonsense from the name). The trolley and south headhouse and Radford Lane (more on that part later) will be complete in 12-18 months.   At the same time a new affordable housing project will be built in front of the station.

For commuters and residents the next 41 months of station construction will be marked by chaos, frustration, delays and new perspectives, excitement and hope that with the changes comes an improved and safer neighborhood.

The old station is just a pile of crumpled steel beams, concrete chunks and wood kindling today.  Barletta will keep on working for the next two weekends to complete the demolition and I wll try to keep photographing the work in progress.  See the photo album for latest images.