Some have asked why sidewalks couldn’t be poured before the time consuming installation of the sitting walls by Pizza Station, CitiBank & Great Stuff and installing the new ADA compliant steps by Whispering Pine, the Boswell office (old EZ Sports space) & Bank of America. The reason is that the sidewalks are formed & poured around the new sitting walls & steps. The sitting walls & steps must be installed first. Since they completed the steps by Whispering Pines & Boswell office (former EZ Sports space), and did enough of the steps by Bank of America, we were able to install new sidewalks. Since they completed the sitting wall for our clock by CitiBank, we were able to install new sidewalks.
Over the last few weeks, we have also installed new sidewalks by the Shell station (across from Pizza Station), on North Greeley towards Susan Lawrence, on Senter Street by the Community Center, on upper King to the project limit by the old Methodist Church & from the Bagel Emporium to the project limit. As far as sidewalks by Ibiza, Family Britches, Petticoat Lane & Great Stuff, we would all like to see sidewalks finally poured there. We first needed Con Ed to relocate a utility pole. After that was done, at the beginning of August, we started excavating for the sitting wall by Great Stuff. The sitting wall is part of the pedestrian plaza. Unfortunately, we discovered a buried oil tank in front of Great Stuff. All work at that location was immediately halted. NYS DEC was immediately notified. We were now under the direction & control of NYS DEC. Soil needed to be tested. DEC would then instruct us how to remove the oil tank, how to remove any contaminated soil & where to send it. When we were finally given permission to remove the oil tank, another oil tank was discovered. The 2nd oil tank was halfway under the building. These residential oil tanks were not on any maps – not our maps - not on the maps of the building owner.
Two weeks ago we were finally given permission to remove the 2nd oil tank (and make sure foundation was ok). The contaminated soil was removed early last week. Work was finally allowed to progress at this location. The footing was done last week. They are now working on the actual sitting wall. We are now able to install the trench drains. They will then grade for the sidewalk. Next week they will excavate the wall by Waka then start installing the new wall. Again, we cannot pour sidewalks by Waka until their new wall is completed. After the wall is done, they can install the trench drains & grade for sidewalks. By Pizza Station, the sitting wall – with stone veneer – is almost done, just needs to top rock caps.
Next week they will install trench drains & grade for sidewalks. Pouring of the remaining sidewalks is planned for the weeks of 09/09 & 09/16. Full road reclamation is done. That work was done at night. We removed the entire road – went 2 feet down – and then installed a new road bed, sub-surface & surface (pavement). As far as the trees, planting season is late September and early October. At that time, they will start digging the tree pits, plant trees, and install the grates. Unfortunately, final paving cannot take place until trees are planted, and planters placed. The trucks used to plant the trees & place the planters would damage new asphalt. Immediately before final paving, the traffic sensors can be installed in the road & then final paving will take place. The traffic light & street lights will then be turned on! As I previously mentioned, benches, tables, chairs, umbrellas & planters have been ordered. Our goal is to place the tables, chairs, umbrellas, benches & 57 planters prior to the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival (10/5).
Rob Greenstein
Supervisor, New Castle
