The demolition of a structurally compromised condominium in Cambridge has begun, prompting road closures and a significant reconfiguration of local traffic patterns that are expected to impact nearby neighborhoods for several months.
Residents of the Riverview Condominiums at 221 Mount Auburn St. were compelled to evacuate their units last November following the discovery of alarming structural issues.
In addition, occupants of a neighboring 14-unit building vacated the premises last month as a precautionary measure.
During a recent city-hosted meeting, officials revealed that concerns about the nine-story, 66-unit building first emerged in February 2023.
An engineering assessment uncovered serious defects in the concrete construction, indicating that it did not meet established design specifications for strength and reinforcement.
Particularly troubling were the identified penetrations and changes made to the concrete slabs, which exacerbated the situation.
Given these findings, the condominium association concluded that rehabilitating the structure was impractical, leading to the decision to demolish the building.
On June 27, the Cambridge Inspectional Services Department mandated that demolition take place.
According to an official presentation, the entire demolition process is projected to take approximately eight weeks for preliminary engineering and permitting, followed by a demolition phase lasting an additional 12 to 16 weeks.
City officials announced that from July 19 onwards, portions of Mount Auburn Street and Sparks Street will be closed due to their close proximity to the building in question.
During this closure, traffic will be altered: Channing Street will transition to one-way, allowing only southbound travel, while Lowell and Willard Streets will switch to one-way, restricting traffic to northbound only.
These changes will necessitate detours for drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and also impact the MBTA bus routes 71 and 73.
Additional health and safety orders are anticipated to be issued by Cambridge officials as the situation continues to evolve.
As the demolition progresses, residents are encouraged to stay informed about ongoing developments and traffic updates to navigate the disruptions effectively.
image source from：wcvb
