CAMBRIDGE MATTERS
By: Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
May 24, 2018

Dear Friends and Readers:

At the emergency meeting this afternoon, City Council voted 5-0 to demolish the building at 507 Race Street, which had fallen in on itself the past few days. While the front and rear portions of the building were still standing, the sides had fallen into the building and its current condition was a danger to the community due to its instability.

This was a no win vote except in one respect. By voting to demolish the remnants of this historic building, city council was doing what needed to be done to protect the historic buildings that are on each side of the the one that self-destructed. As or more important, in my view, than saving 507 Race Street was doing what we could to ensure that 505 and 509 Race Street were not damaged.

Unfortunately, this may wind up in the city (and its taxpayers) having to absorb the cost of the remaining demolition of this property. The city will be seeking funding from the state for this work.

My hope is that this will also help us to take a good hard look at buildings in our community that are in distressed shape and begin taking steps to ensure that the owners are taking action to protect and ultimately rehabilitate them.

Happy Memorial Day weekend.

Steve