I. Introduction.
II. Photos first delivered.
III. Phil’s Comments.
IV. Supplemental Photo.
V. Editor’s Analysis, from original letter.
On January 17, 2019, I delivered a letter to the Cambridge City Manager and the Cambridge City Council through the City Clerk. The latter will be formally delivered to the Cambridge City Council on January 28, 2019. After delivery, Phil found another excellent relevant photo. I have prepared a supplement to add that photo, which supplement will be delivered in the next few days timely for 1/28/19 presentation to the Cambridge City Council.
For clearer presentation on this blog, I have inserted proper blog format, including a section for the added photo.
I. Introduction.
Gentlemen / Ladies:
During this extended outrage on the Charles River, Phil Barber has repeatedly compared trees on the Charles to a group of trees in northern Cambridgeport which were in excellent condition.
The trees are in an area in which the Cambridge Development Department has done extensive “planning,” the former NECCO Spur off the Grand Junction.
II. Photos first delivered.
Here is a cropped MIT [ed: Massachusetts Institute of Technology\ photo, arrow added, from its report concerning the alleged Grand Junction bike path (stalking horse for private I90 off ramp for MIT?). To indicate the location of the photos on the former NECCO spur I have added a red arrow. As stated below by Phil, the property in whose bounds the arrow and the tree destruction are located is on Sidney Street. The rear end is on the former NECCO spur. The property, belongs to MIT..
The yellow arrow is provided by MIT on the Grand Junction in MIT’s original presentation.
MIT was one of the most visible fighters for the destruction of hundreds of excellent trees on the Charles River by Cambridge / Department of Conservation and Recreation in January 2016.
Here is a blow up of Phil’s photo of the excellent destroyed trees, photo taken in April 2017.
Phil recently went back there. Those excellent trees have been destroyed. He noted the destruction with X’s, as seen to the left [ed: above].
And here are Phil’s before and after pictures from which the above was taken, marked with dates taken.
III. Phil’s Comments.
Phil’s comments.
* * * * *
. . . .all but four of the huge old cottonwoods along the former railbed have been cut down recently. they looked healthy enough last summer.
* * * * *
Found a decent photo from 2017, took another today. Street address is 128 Sidney, owned by dear old MIT, naturally. This is rear parking lot for the bldg, City Map-Lot: 67-47, official address MIT 128 SIDNEY SPE LLC registered w/city 3/28/2008.
I would say six or seven large trunks were removed. They looked healthy enough, as i recall, a few dead branches like those on the river maybe.
* * * * *
IV. Supplemental Photo.
Phil Barber has found an additional before photo of the outrage by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on the former NECCO Spur. Here it is, for your information.
V. Editor’s Analysis, from original letter.
And, as I said, this area has been an area of major concern for the Cambridge Development Department.
Locations nearby which are also of major concern to the Cambridge Development Department include:
1. That portion of Memorial Drive between the BU Bridge and the Longfellow Bridge where the DCR and Cambridge destroyed hundreds of trees in January 2016. “Phase 1.”
2. Magazine Beach where the DCR and Cambridge will imminently destroy 56 mostly excellent trees, but the Cambridge City Council does its best not to know what the Cambridge City Council is doing there. “Phase 2.”
The Cambridge City Council has funded at least TWO SECRET projects at Magazine Beach. I provided the City Council with the results of the first SECRET project recently, and will provide greater information on the second in the near future.
This outrage is related to the blank check the Cambridge City Council gave the DCR by Order 1 of April 24, 2016. As near as I can gather, the City Council’s Presiding Officer seems to think that the City Council is not responsible for the implementation of blank checks given by the Cambridge City Council, and to say otherwise is, by definition, a lie.
3. The Wild Area between the Grand Junction and the BU Boathouse on Memorial Drive. The destruction plans for January 2016 called for the destruction of all but one tree in this location. This area is part of “Phase 3.” The DCR has announced that it is hiring a consultant. I would not be so stupid as to expect that destruction of the Wild Area in accordance with the January 2016's destruction plans with be not included in the “Phase 3" plans.
4. Destruction in the Goose Meadow has been in existing Grand Junction plans, and would clearly be associated with the outrage in the Wild Area.
Sincerely,
Robert J. La Trémouille
Chair
