City Readies Property Owners, Residents to Re-Enter Blast Zone
The blast zone along Boylston Street is still an active crime scene, but city officials are preparing a plan to let business owners and inspectors into the area on a “staggered schedule for limited access.” The city emergency management team along with Mayor Thomas Menino met Sunday to devise a five-phase plan for re-entry to the Copley Square blast zone in the April 15 marathon bombings, according to a press statement April 21. The phases include: Phase 1: Decontamination and TestingPhase 2: Structural Building Assessments and Utility CoordinationPhase 3: Debris RemovalPhase 4: Internal Building AssessmentsPhase 5: Re-Entry, Communications, and Counseling The plan will be implemented once the FBI clears the zone, according to the statement. Items at a memorial at the intersection of Boylston and Berkeley streets and other area memorials will be temporarily moved to Copley Square Park. Boston Police will return personal items left at the scene that has not been retained as evidence by the FBI, according to the statement. Menino on the City of Boston website wrote a message April 20 to business owners and residents of property on Boylston Street from Massachusetts Avenue to Clarendon Street and Huntington Avenue to Newbury Street saying that as soon as the FBI gives the signal, people will be allowed back through the scene of the Boston Marathon bombings. “As soon as we receive clearance from the FBI, the City will move quickly to ensure that the area is safe for residents and businesses to return. We will be taking steps to secure the public safety, including: Ensuring that streets and sidewalks are clean of equipment and debris and are safe for pedestrians; Ensuring that all buildings are structurally sound,” the message said. The city has not given a timeline as to when the plan might be called to action, but the message says workers are on standby and prepared to execute on the plan as soon as possible. The message noted that some areas might be ready sooner than others. The message asks those impacted by the blocked off crime scene to register online or to call 617-635-4500 to provide updated information so the city can be in contact with business and property owners as well as residents when the area is re-opened. The city asks that owners consider the outside contractor services they may need and will provide some lists of contractors for cleanup, construction, board-up and other services. South End Patch