A missing brick on Charles Street near Pinckney Street.
by Sandra Miller
The sidewalks along Charles Street are historic and beautiful, except when they are marred with missing and broken bricks. Then it's a hazard that is keeping many off the street.
"I cannot walk that street anymore," said one elderly woman who complained how hard it is to navigate the bumpy sidewalks on Charles Street. "It's just not safe."
There are a few sidewalks last week that were also slippery with ice, but it's the missing bricks that create path to area businesses that's treacherous, unable to be shoveled or sanded.
As it turns out, the city is paying attention. Department of Public Work's (DPW) Frank O'Brien asked the Beacon Hill Civic Association Clean Beacon Hill Committee to identify any area street and sidewalk that needs immediate work, and the committee placed Charles Street at the top of its to-do list, said BHCA Director Suzanne Besser.
"My understanding is that the work would take place if there is a small window of good weather enabling them to focus on road work rather than snow plowing," said Besser.
According to a spokesman in Councilor Michael Ross' office, many of the bricks have been replaced or repointed already, including along the even side of the street, in front of 92-112 Charles St., and also 116, 144, 158 and 160 Charles St.
"Last year, the Department of Public Works started fixing up the problem areas on Charles Street. Unfortunately, there are only so many projects the DPW can take on in the warm weather, so not every area that was identified was fixed," said Ross' communications director, Amy Derjue. "When the weather improves, they will start fixing the street up again."
Beacon Hill Business Association (BHBA) Executive Director Ellen Rooney has had fallen a few times, slipping on residential garbage on the sidewalk. "I've heard secondhand talk of some frightening falls," said Rooney. "Anything that the city can do to remedy this unsafe situation would be welcome.
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