Boston Courant: city to take up sidewalk in question

Posted by John B. Kelly

Not really being on the ball, I just saw a copy of the Boston Courant article about Neighborhood Access Group. The Courant comes out every Monday, is free, and is a great source for local neighborhood news.

Author Dan Friedman writes that

Following pressure from NAG and other groups, the city said that bricks will be removed from the stretch of Huntington Avenue near Massachusetts Avenue, including in front of the Symphony Towers, which houses mostly elderly and disabled residents.

This is news to me. And great news, if it happens.

Great reporting, Dan!

Here is an excerpt of the article:

NAG members showed up at Mayor Thomas Menino's August press conference announcing the reconstruction of streets around Symphony Hall, in what Kelly called an effort to embarrass the mayor. They held four subsequent protests on Huntington Avenue, including a march on November 2.

The group argues that installation of brick sidewalks is an aesthetic choice made without regard for the discomfort and danger bricks impose on disabled residents and other pedestrians.

"How outrageous [is it] that... people can't even come back from shopping without risk of peeing their pants, that people have to take the bus instead of using the sidewalk, go in the street or get sick so others can look at nice sidewalks on their way to their reserved parking places?" Kelly asked.

NAG continually calls for the city to remove brick along the length Huntington Avenue and eventually evaluate every brick sidewalk in Boston.

The city still has to repair the sidewalk in the meantime -- it is dangerous, especially going into winter season, when icy, uneven sidewalks can slide wheelchairs right into the street.