Beach Pkwy. and Rockport Square Construction

[Lori Allen _]

Today, I was visiting someone over at the apartments on Beach Pkwy. This is a small, public street that is off of Beach Ave. behind the Rockport Square construction site. On my way out, I ran into a resident of the apartments. She was not at all happy about the way the construction was being handled. First, she voiced concern over the fact that heavy construction vehicles and equipment were using Beach Pkwy. She stated that they were not supposed to use this street and were supposed to use Detroit. The vehicles should be able to get in using Detroit, Fry, or Beach Ave. and appear to have no business using Beach Pkwy. The pavement on Beach Pkwy. is being pounded down, cracked, and broken by this heavy traffic every day.

This resident also told me that she called Summers' office to voice her concerns about the project. She was told by one of Summers' secretaries to call the police. She called the police and was told that they were unable to help. In my opinion, this is not really a police issue. This is an issue for Beno. He oversees engineering and construction projects. He should be checking in on these construction sites regularly to ensure the contractors are obeying the rules. After all, the taxpayers did buy him a new Chevrolet Malibu last year to drive around town in. It even has a city plate on it. To conclude, this resident was not happy with Summers & Company.

I also noticed that there was a very low, mesh fence surrounding the northwest corner of the construction site. A child could easily climb over this fence and trespass on the construction site where heavy machinery, sharp objects, and uneven ground abound (pictures below).

If Jay Foran, Ken Haber, or anyone north of the William-Sonoma Line called Summers' office to complain about an issue like this, I suspect it would be taken care of very quickly.

We must also bear in mind that this development is brought to us by the Cleveland Clinic.

I feel a little more oversight of our contractors and construction sites is in order. This could be a liability.

FWIW.

[Lori Allen _]

There are also metal plates covering holes on Beach, Fry, and Detroit. I had to drive around one of the plates on Fry yesterday at the risk of being hit by a turning vehicle, as the plate was sticking up so far that it could have punctured my tire.

Additionally, these plates will probably be here for quite some time. Could the plates be secured with some asphalt so that they are not as noisy when traffic hits them? However, we are not north of the William-Sonoma Line.

[Lori Allen _]

Update: it appears that the site is still not secured from children climbing the very low, mesh fence and playing with the construction equipment. The same equipment/junk is still where it was last week. Also, the planning for pedestrian traffic also leaves much to be desired. There are no "sidewalk closed" or "pedestrian detour" signs anywhere. What would you do if you were blind?

Fry side of ROckport Sqaure sidewalk closed.jpg (150.16 KiB) Viewed 2181 times

This is the sidewalk on the Fry Ave. side of the construction site. The entrance gate completely blocks the sidewalk. Nowhere on Fry Ave. are there any pedestrian detour signs or warning signs. So, you have to go in the street around parked cars and construction vehicles. This is right near an intersection where drivers turn the corner and may not see pedestrians in the street avoiding the blocked sidewalk. Additionally, a blind person could not see cars coming around the corner and avoid them. Trust me, very few drivers in Lakewood appear to pay any attention to the way they drive, especially when they are drunk.

Beach Pkwy site updated.jpg (33.91 KiB) Viewed 2181 times

The fence on the northwest corner of the site is still not secured. Any child or mentally challenged adult running around unsupervised could easily climb into the site and hurt themselves on equipment, trip on a raised casting, or fall into one of the sinkholes.

Fry side of Rockport Square.jpg (149.51 KiB) Viewed 2181 times

More junk that kids could hurt themselves on by easily gaining access to the site.

If you live in this area, please really try to keep an eye on your children and don't let them near this site. Most of the other construction sites in Lakewood are secured and safe. This one is not. After all, these condos are brought to us by the Cleveland Clinic!

[Lori Allen _]

Just noticed that the site on the south side of Detroit is even less secure. One flimsy, yellow piece of banner tape. Meanwhile, equipment and sinkholes abound just beyond said tape.

Hopkins side Rockport Sqaure.jpg (192.43 KiB) Viewed 2165 times

[Stan Austin]

In the words of our Greatest Attorney General Mitchell, "Sometimes you gotta break some eggs to make an omelette. "

[todd vainisi]

I'm worried for the safety of the construction workers. If a child gets through the barrier, I suspect they may all be shot in order to protect the child!

[Lori Allen _]

Update:

The site is still not secured and sharp, potentially dangerous equipment is laying all over said site. Also, one of the metal plates that the contractor put in the middle of Detroit shifted significantly recently, leaving part of the large hole in the street exposed. The contractor was working only a few feet away, they should have seen this.

Who is liable if a kid trespasses on the site and gets hurt? Is there any city oversight of these contractors?

Just wondering.

[Peter Grossetti]

Who is liable if a kid trespasses on the site and gets hurt? Is there any city oversight of these contractors?

Reminds me of that whole "gorilla-shot-at-the-zoo/kid-in-the-enclosure/where-was-the-mother" thing that came and went recently.

[Lori Allen _]

I would appreciate a member of the city administration to please post here on the Deck and explain about the liabilities and responsibilities and what is being done to alleviate the problem. A child or any human being getting hurt at a site like this is not a laughing matter. Imagine a blind person trying to get through! Perhaps the Ward Councilperson would like to comment on this.

[Lori Allen _]

UPDATE:

The holes in the sidewalk have been barricaded off, but there is still no protection to keep children from trespassing on the site and hurting themselves.