Lowell Condos Built On Old City Dump?
Team 5 Investigates Hazardous Chemicals Found In Soil
POSTED: 5:22 pm EDT October 14,
2009
UPDATED: 6:35 pm EDT October 14,
2009
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BOSTON -- There is fencing around part of the Grand Manor Condominiums in Lowell. Signs say keep out and tarp covers the ground. A recent drainage project revealed elevated levels of arsenic and lead in the soil. 
Team 5 Investigates reported there's now a battle brewing over who's responsible and who should pay for the cleanup."At this point we feel we're the victims and that we shouldn't be responsible for cleaning this up," said Keith Parker, president of the condo association.The Department of Environmental Protection deemed one part of the land an imminent hazard and ordered the condo association to pay for a cleanup."We're very concerned and more so for the kids who play around in the property," said Parker.Parker looked into the history of the land by studying aerial photos and reading newspaper archives. He was troubled by articles in the Lowell Sun referring to the Willard Street Dump in the 1940s and 50s. His condo is located at 175 Willard Street."This is really the only location it could have been," Parker said. "The article references it was on Dracut line. And that's right here."But the Lowell city manager had a different take."We don't actually have any city documentation that there was a dump at that property," said Bernard Lynch.Lynch said it could have been a neighborhood dumping ground. But a Team 5 Investigates review of newspaper articles found it referred to as a city-owned dump infamous for its fires and unsanitary conditions. Ultimately, according to newspaper reports, the city closed it down."It isn't full documentation it was a city dump. We really haven't been able to ascertain that yet," Lynch said.Lowell will only confirm it sold the property in 1983 to a developer who has since died. In the meantime a condo association lawyer is demanding the city take responsibility.The condo association has already spent $37,000 to investigate the problem and cover a small portion of the property. Overall costs could go into the hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on how widespread the problem turns out to be.People who live here say they can't sell, banks don't want to finance here and buyers are already scared away."We want it taken care of soon," said Parker. "We can't wait around and live like this."
Lowell Condos Built On Old City Dump?Team 5 Investigates reported there's now a battle brewing over who's responsible and who should pay for the cleanup."At this point we feel we're the victims and that we shouldn't be responsible for cleaning this up," said Keith Parker, president of the condo association.The Department of Environmental Protection deemed one part of the land an imminent hazard and ordered the condo association to pay for a cleanup."We're very concerned and more so for the kids who play around in the property," said Parker.Parker looked into the history of the land by studying aerial photos and reading newspaper archives. He was troubled by articles in the Lowell Sun referring to the Willard Street Dump in the 1940s and 50s. His condo is located at 175 Willard Street."This is really the only location it could have been," Parker said. "The article references it was on Dracut line. And that's right here."But the Lowell city manager had a different take."We don't actually have any city documentation that there was a dump at that property," said Bernard Lynch.Lynch said it could have been a neighborhood dumping ground. But a Team 5 Investigates review of newspaper articles found it referred to as a city-owned dump infamous for its fires and unsanitary conditions. Ultimately, according to newspaper reports, the city closed it down."It isn't full documentation it was a city dump. We really haven't been able to ascertain that yet," Lynch said.Lowell will only confirm it sold the property in 1983 to a developer who has since died. In the meantime a condo association lawyer is demanding the city take responsibility.The condo association has already spent $37,000 to investigate the problem and cover a small portion of the property. Overall costs could go into the hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on how widespread the problem turns out to be.People who live here say they can't sell, banks don't want to finance here and buyers are already scared away."We want it taken care of soon," said Parker. "We can't wait around and live like this." Copyright 2010 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
