Memorial Drive lane closing amid concern of Cambridge condominium collapse

Memorial Drive is dropping a part of a lane indefinitely amid considerations that a big — and structurally compromised — Cambridge condominium constructing may collapse.

Beginning Saturday and persevering with till additional discover, the state’s Division of Conservation and Recreation stated it should shut the fitting lane of Memorial Drive westbound between Hawthorn Avenue and Gerrys Touchdown Street. The closure comes as Cambridge prepares for the demolition of the troubled 66-unit Riverview constructing on Mount Auburn Avenue, which was evacuated in a rush final 12 months following the invention of structural deficiencies in its concrete. 

Town can be closing smaller segments of Mount Auburn Avenue and Sparks Avenue as a result of their proximity to the condominium constructing, sidewalks included. Entry shall be maintained for direct abutters, and a map of closures and detours is accessible on the Cambridge web site. 

Riverview’s structural deficiencies have been first uncovered in 2023 throughout exploratory work for roof and drainage repairs, in line with the town. After evaluating its choices, the condominium affiliation concluded repairs wouldn’t be possible and demolition was the one viable alternative. 

“Even with the elimination of individuals and furnishings from the constructing, evaluation signifies doubtlessly harmful constructing situations,” in line with a presentation metropolis leaders shared throughout a neighborhood assembly final week. These situations embody substandard concrete and poor reinforcement, an engineering overview discovered. 

Metropolis officers ordered the constructing’s demolition final month, telling the homeowners it’s “at the moment in a situation that’s unsafe and harmful to life and limb, and subsequently should be eliminated.” 

Cambridge anticipates the engineering and allowing section will take about six to eight weeks, with the demolition itself requiring 12 to 16 weeks, in line with final week’s presentation. The slides additionally touched on the necessity for an environmental advisor “to deal with hazardous constructing supplies like asbestos,” given Riverview was constructed within the Sixties.

It isn’t clear but when demolition will start.

Earlier this 12 months, the constructing’s condominium board requested Cambridge to step in for the complicated and costly demolition course of, The Boston Globe reported. In accordance with the Globe, the town plans to make use of public funds to pay for the demolition, degree the constructing by the top of the 12 months, and get better bills throughout a future sale of the property.

A digital neighborhood assembly to debate neighborhood updates is scheduled for July 24.

Abby Patkin is a normal project information reporter whose work touches on public transit, crime, well being, and every part in between. She has been protecting the Karen Learn homicide case.