PHOTOS: Ink Block Demolition Continues on Harrison Ave
The former Boston Herald building is officially no more. Demolition has been underway for the last several weeks at the Harrison Ave site of the future Ink Block Developement, a $ 200 million mixed-use project that will feature hundreds of apartments and a Whole Foods supermarket. At the demolition site this week, construction crews used a crane and a wrecking ball to tear down the small portion remained standing of the Herald building. Construction began on the six-acre site in 2013 with a ceremonial ground-breaking. The project is scheduled to be fully completed in 2016. The Whole Foods supermarket is expected to open in late 2014. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Dic Donohue Continues Recovery After Firefight with Bombing Suspects
The MBTA officer seriously hurt in a gunfight with the Boston Marathon bombing suspects continues to recover from life-threatening injuries. Richard “Dic” Donohue, 33, was hit in the leg April 19 in Watertown, Mass., authorities said. Donohue is a police officer with the Massachusetts Bay Tranportation Authority. His wife, Kim, is from Exeter and graduated from Exeter High School in 2000. “Right now Dic is making amazing strides,” Kim wrote in a post on a Facebook page that Donohue’s family is using to give updates on his recovery. Authorities said Donohue lost a massive amount of blood. At one point, he went into cardiac arrest, according to Dr. Russell Nauta, a doctor at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Mass. where Donohue is being treated. A pair of Watertown firefighters were instrumental in getting Donohue to a hospital after he was shot. The MBTA Transit Police Benevolent Fund Inc. created a website to collect donations for Donohue’s recovery. Donohue is a 1998 Winchester High School graduate. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 2002. Prior to joining the MBTA police force, he served as an officer for the U.S. Navy. He has a young son. The bombing suspects, Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, allegedly killed three people and injured more than 200 by detonating bombs near the finish line of the marathon. Tamerlan died during the confrontation with police, while Dzhokhar was captured in Watertown and will be tried in federal court. The brothers are also accused of killing MIT Officer Sean Collier prior to the Watertown shoot-out with Donohue and other officers. South End Patch
PHOTOS: Boston Streets Deserted as Manhunt Continues
Images of downtown Boston Friday morning are hard to believe, as streets and areas that should be bustling with people are shown empty and deserted—”like a ghost town,” as many have said on social media. Police were still in the middle of a hunt for a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing by around noon. Got a good image of the city (taken from the safety of your home)? Upload it here or email to becca.manning@patch.com. South End Patch
Governor Shuts Down T Service as Bomber Manhunt Continues
After a bloody night and multiple gunfights, one suspected bomber is dead and the other remains at large. Governor Deval Patrick requested the MBTA suspend service until further notice as a safety precaution. Officials asked anyone at a T station or bus to go home. Residents of Watertown, Newton, Waltham, Belmont, Cambridge, Alston/Brighton are asked to stay at home and indoors, businesses to remain closed and avoid mass transit. South End Patch
Wait Continues for ‘Severely Late’ Commuter Rail Cars
In 2008, the MBTA bought 75 new commuter rail cars from Korean-based Hyundai Rotem, in 2013, the MBTA is still waiting for the cars to be delivered. Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary and CEO Richard Davey said at a statehouse oversight committee hearing Tuesday the state is still waiting on 75 double-decker coaches for the commuter rail. The MBTA bought the coaches in 2008 from Korean company Hyundai Rotem. “They are late, severely late,” Davey said. He added, however, that MBTA engineers are satisfied with the quality of the cars. Philadelphia and Los Angeles are in front of Boston in terms of waiting for the cars, but transit engineers in both cities are satisfied with the cars as well, Davey said. “At this point while we’re very concerned about the delay,” he said. “The good news is these are not going to be lemons. If we were unhappy with the quality, we would not have tolerated the type of delay we’ve been watching. These types of cars don’t grow on trees.” SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch