Mass. Ave. snow-shoveling scorecard
Most Arlington businesses along Mass. Ave. had cleared snow from walks
five days after 2 inches fell Dec. 3, according to a late-morning drive
Dec. 8 from Cambridge to Lexington. YourArlington took the 45-minute drive-by
look after residents complained this week about uncleared ice and snow
at 1100 Mass. Ave. and next-door Arlington Tire, among other locations.
Were those businesses out of the ordinary?
Apparently so. Most businesses shoveled early or had cleaned up their act by Saturday, Dec. 8. According to Selectman Diane Mahon, an Arlington police officer visited 1100 Mass. Ave. and next door Dec. 6 to inform owners of the town's snow-clearing bylaw: Snow must be removed three daytime hours after it falls, or a business faces $50 for each day it is not removed.
 About 10 a.m. Dec. 8, the sidewalk in front of 1100 Mass. Ave. had been cleared, but at an area of the walk near the Arlington Tire lot at Quincy, some snow remained. A pile of snow impeded pedestrians along Quincy.
It is not known whether fines were issued. A check Dec. 7 showed the walk in front of 1100 Mass. Ave. had been cleared.
By Dec. 8, the walk in front of Arlington Tire showed more pavement, but the corner at Quincy still needed work.
While the overall report card for Mass. Ave. businesses was positive, here are some unshoveled spots that drew attention (note that the survey was taken between 10 and 11 a.m., and melting likely occurred after that):
-- Citgo station, across from Jimmy's (sidewalk next to parking lot needed work);
-- Brite White laundromat (target of a complaint on the Arlington list earlier in the week, the walk was clear Dec. 8);
-- Dunkin' Donuts in the heights (the "one-lane" sidewalk was not down to pavement);
-- Brigham's in the Heights (the uphill Park Avenue walk has its slippery moments);
-- Keshian & Reynolds law office at Brattle Square (that uncleared patch night mean a lawsuit);
-- Shell station, across from Grove Street (sand was on the snowy walk parallel to the pump, but the corner at Coleman was neglected); and
-- Broadway Plaza (this appears to be the worst spot observed, but the untouched areas are those frequented in warmer weather; too the credit of store owners, the brick walkway immediately in front of plaza businesses were clear Dec. 8).
 Gas stations seemed to have a problem. The Shell across from Grove Street has sand on a length of its walk, but the corner at Coleman had less attention.
The walks in front of some business areas were neglected because owners had moved. That includes:
-- The house across from Brite White, which previously included a law office; and
-- The former Heights location of Taylor Rental, which has moved to Bow Street.
Menotomy Court is one apartment complex whose managers ought to read up on the town snow-clearing bylaw -- for the safety or residents and any pedestrian.
One church, Trinity Baptist, could have done a better clearing job, but pavement was visible by 3 p.m. Dec. 8.
In addition, the sidewalk along Mass. Ave. in front of Arlington High School, unwalkable Dec. 5, when the Winter Concert, was performed, was cleared soon after complaints were lodged Dec. 6.
This report is not about private homes, though one along Mass. Ave. near Old Colony stood out for its owner's apparent lack of caring. One needs to say "apparent," because there many reasons a private home may not be shoveled.
This report is not definitive, and if readers see other cases worth of public attention, please inform the publisher of this site: e-mail.
 By far the worst spot observed on Mass. Ave. was at the Broadway Plaza, but the untouched areas are those frequented in warmer weather. To the credit of store owners, the brick walkway immediately in front of plaza businesses were clear Dec. 8.
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