Dear Mayor Fuller, What is the responsibility of a community to address an intersection that the state recognizes as a “High-Crash Cluster”? The posts, bridges and signs at Albemarle/Crafts tell the story of that designation, as they lie broken, flattened and splintered by cars unable to proceed safely through—and yet this cluster is part andContinue reading “Make It Safer: A Petition”
Category Archives: Design
Letter in Support of Gath Pool Funding
To the Community Preservation Committee, We’re excited about the progress that is being made on renovating Gath Pool. We advocate for moving forward rapidly with investment into this citywide asset and community resource that impacts all of Newton. We appreciate the work and effort taken thus far and look forward to investing time and energyContinue reading “Letter in Support of Gath Pool Funding”
More than a fender-bender
There’s so much exciting progress happening at Albemarle that it seems like a shame to spend time publicizing the cars that crash into it, but if we can’t improve the traffic situation, we will never be able to enjoy the pool, forest, fields or playgrounds. Here’s the scene from Wednesday February 8 on North streetContinue reading “More than a fender-bender”
FOUR high-speed accidents in EIGHT weeks
Click each photo to enlarge An Albemarle emergency: On an average of every other week for two months, there has been a major accident that totals vehicles and destroys infrastructure. (I assume it also injures people, but cannot confirm that.) Right now the corner of Albemarle and Crafts is a sea of snapped posts, cautionContinue reading “FOUR high-speed accidents in EIGHT weeks”
Today’s accident
Seen below, the accident from today at Albemarle and Crafts, a Mass DOT high-crash intersection. This is the third crash in the past month from speeding. Accident from 11/18 Accident from 12/8 There are safety recommendations for this intersection that are yet to be implemented. There is a petition to implement them (with 187 signersContinue reading “Today’s accident”
Letter to the Newton Traffic Council
December 7, 2022 To the Newton Traffic Council, We, the board of Friends of Albemarle, are writing in strong support of the item TC58 -22, being considered by the Council on December 15. It reads as follows: JASON SOBEL, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS, requesting to permanently close the northbound block of Albemarle Road to vehicularContinue reading “Letter to the Newton Traffic Council”
Final Design: Gath Pool
On April 25, 2022, the design team BH+A presented a final design for Gath Pool (“Option 4”). Here is an excerpt from their presentation. Highlights include a walking lane for pool users, zero-entry, splash pad, standard-depth and more lanes for competition.
Four Options: Excerpted Slides from Albemarle Fields Presentation
Here are some slides from the Weston & Sampson presentation on a range of concepts for Albemarle Fields redesign.
Fields and Pool and You
There are two upcoming city meetings about Albemarle – both on zoom. Attend tonight’s meeting to view the plans for the fields and the pool, but not to make a public comment. Attend Tuesday of next week to discuss the plans as a community. (Register in advance.) Bottom line: attend! We’ll see you there! Cedar From Newton Parks,Continue reading “Fields and Pool and You”
Gath & Murphy & Magnets
Two big Albemarle meetings that happened this week, and below are updates on how they went. Please forward and encourage people to join Friends of Albemarle. (And a reminder to buy your Friends of Albemarle Magnets: Just visit the side-door foyer of 29 North St. in Newton (steps from Albemarle!), leave $5 per magnet in theContinue reading “Gath & Murphy & Magnets”
Friends of Albemarle 