October 17, 2007
Mr. Tai Lim
Boston Redevelopment Authority
One City Hall Square
Boston, MA 02201-1007
Subject: Hong Lok House, 11-31 Essex Street
Dear Mr. Lim:
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Project Notification Form filed on the Hong Lok House. The Boston Groundwater Trust was established by the Boston City Council to monitor groundwater levels in sections of the City where the integrity of building foundations is threatened by lowered groundwater levels and to make recommendations for solving the problem. As such, my comments are limited to groundwater related issues.
The project is located on Essex Street, within the Groundwater Conservation Overlay District established under Article 32 of the Boston Zoning Code. Unfortunately, the PNF does not address groundwater or geotechnical issues, making it impossible to assess the potential impact of the project. Therefore, I request that the proponent be required to address this issue either in a supplemental filing or in a Draft Project Impact Report before the project completes the Article 80 review process. I would hope that this assessment would address how the project would meet the zoning requirements, including whether the project can have a negative impact on groundwater levels and how it will meet the recharge requirements set forth in Article 32.
I look forward to the opportunity to work with the proponents and the Authority to help assure that the project can only have a positive impact on area groundwater levels.
Very truly yours,
Elliott Laffer
Executive Director
Cc: Kathleen Pederson, BRA
Maura Zlody, BED
