Project Updates

We hosted the ECO intern students from GreenRoots for a walk this month to hear their input and ideas about the project - thank you! We are also continuing to work with the MBTA and the City on the permitting required to begin removal of debris from the 2024 fire and from old buildings that are past their useful life. We have also selected a consultant partner for our community engagement work and look forward to announcing a series of community meetings soon for people to learn more abut the project and provide input.

We held our first community meeting on the site hosted by GreenRoots and welcomed 50 Chelsea residents onto the property for the first time for a walk on a beautiful summer evening, with tours held in Spanish, English, and Amharic. It was fantastic to see them experience the property and share their ideas for the future. Add your name to our mailing list to learn about opportunities for future community meetings and tours.

Our work this month is focused on obtaining the necessary permits from the MBTA and the CIty to begin removal of the debris from the 2024 fire that destroyed one of the old mill buildings. We hope to be able to begin this work by the fall. We have also installed security cameras to better monitor the site in addition to daily patrols by our security service.

The City of Chelsea will be using our front lot this month for temporary storage of equipment and supplies related to the Crescent Ave sidewalk project. This work will begin on July 3 and last approximately 3 weeks.

The clean up of the front lot has been completed. Work for the next few months will focus on planning and assessment related to the future demolition of unsafe buildings and the repair of the seawall.

Work to clean up the front lot on Crescent Avenue begins on May 24. This includes installing a fence along the front border of the property to prevent dumping and loitering in the lot. Weeds and old construction debris will also be removed.

Immediately after taking ownership of the Forbes site, Mass Audubon began to put in critical safety measures to cut down on unauthorized and unsafe use of the site including: 

• Securing the gates and fencing around the property 

• Boarding up dangerous buildings to prevent access

• Covering the debris pile left from the 2024 fire to prevent the spread of contaminants