Happens All the Time.
By Jim Conley • Apr 9th, 2008 • Email This Post to a Friend •
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Last Monday, during the St. Aidan’s PR spectacle put on by the Town and the Boston Archdiocese, Brookline Selectman Bobby Allen treated the crowd with this analytic pearl: “We demolish buildings in Brookline all the time” (implying that the St. Aidan’s demolition—and its asbestos abatement—is no big deal).
Well, if your view is bucolic South Brookline from your SUV (as is Allen’s), I guess it is no big deal.
But pictured above is the environment in which the St. Aidan’s demolition will occur. And the callousness with which the town and its development partner have approached the removal of asbestos is unforgivable.
Especially because of the scale with which, and wherein, it has occurred.
Update: I’m hearing that the demolition of the rectory building may not occur this week. That’s a stunning development. Last Monday, the contractor was “absolutely confident” that plans to abate asbestos and demolish the rectory were not subject to change.
What’s happened? I’m hearing that involvement by the Massachusetts DEP has resulted in a much more deliberate and cautious asbestos removal process.
Folks, it’s what happens when agencies with enforcement responsibility actually do their jobs (and don’t have to worry about angry calls from hacks and cronies). Finally, some in state government are seeing through the Brookline charade and stepping in. More of that, please.
Update (2): And don’t think for a moment that the Archdiocese won’t be asking the Town for more (public) money from its affordable housing trust fund to cover the unanticipated costs with asbestos removal. And the Brookline Selectmen will give it to them.
Update (3): It just gets worse. According to an update from Brookline Planning Director Jeff Levine, new asbestos was found on the rectory roof. But on Monday, the project manager for Consigli Construction said that they had scoured and drilled every inch of that roof and no additional asbestos could be found (I have it on tape).
Hey, everyone makes mistakes. But if you know anything about St. Aidan’s, you know not to take anyone at their word. I shudder to think what would happen were the State DEP not breathing down their necks.
Jim Conley is publisher of On Brookline.
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And since the Demolition Delay Bylaw was adopted, the Town via the Preservation Commission (aka “Taste Police”) delays demolitions up to a year to determine historical significance (e.g., the Red Sox’s John Henry) and sometimes thus accommodate neighbors to petition to have a historic neighborhood approved making it even tougher to demolish even partially. John Henry’s mansion may not have historic significance and his demolition plans have been delayed. Contrast this wtih the rectory at St. Aidan’s which has significant historic significance but no action on the part of the Taste Police (because of Chapter 40B?) to defer on the rectory. So it isn’t quite true that Brookline demolishes all the time.
John Henry, take note. My telephone number is in the book for ticket arrangements for the Yankees series. Your’re welcome.