November 26, 2007
Mr. Rodney Sinclair
Boston Redevelopment Authority
One City Hall Square
Boston, MA 02201-1007
Subject: Oxford Ping On Affordable Housing
Dear Mr. Sinclair:
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Project Notification Form for the Oxford Ping On Affordable Housing. The Boston Groundwater Trust was established by the Boston City Council to monitor groundwater levels in areas 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 restricted to groundwater related issues.
As stated in the PNF, the project is located in the Groundwater Conservation Overlay District. I was pleased to see the commitment in the PNF to comply with the GCOD requirements, a commitment that was reiterated in the scoping session. I was also pleased with the clarification in the scoping session that the single level basement mentioned in the PNF is no longer part of the project, eliminating the possibility that the underground structure could leak and consequent waterproofing requirements.
I was pleased to read, as well, that the project plans to install groundwater observation wells in the vicinity of the site to monitor levels before, during, and after construction. I request that the proponent coordinate with the Trust on the location of the wells which will ideally be located on public property. The wells will ultimately be incorporated into the Trust’s observation well network, so they should be installed in accordance with our specifications.
I look forward to working with the proponent and the Authority to assure that the work can only lead to an improvement in groundwater levels in the Chinatown neighborhood.
Very truly yours,
Elliott Laffer
Executive Director
Cc: Kathleen Pederson, BRA
Maura Zlody, BED
