The following entries are a compilation of suspicious events since September 30, 2015 at the loading dock for the new improved ($500,000,000) Harvard University Art Museums Truck Depot. Most of the violations occurred at night when my camera was unable to capture images. Some of the images in this post are from earlier events, as noted.
City noise ordinance Chapter 8.16.080 Non-measured noise disturbances.
Noise Disturbances Prohibited. The following acts are declared to be loud, disturbing and unnecessary noises in violation of this chapter, but said enumeration shall not be deemed to be exclusive.
E. Loading and Unloading. Loading, unloading, opening, closing or other handling of boxes, crates, containers, building materials, garbage cans, or similar objects between the hours of nine p.m. and seven a.m. the following day on weekdays, or between the hours of nine p.m. and nine a.m. the following day when the following day is a Saturday, Sunday or holiday in such a manner as to be plainly audible at a distance of fifty feet from the lot line of the lot on which such activity is located, or to be plainly audible within a noise sensitive zone.
Wednesday September 30, 2015, at about 6:40 AM I heard the annoying back up beeper warning from a truck. I looked through my window and saw a US Food trailer truck backing into the loading dock at the new improved $500 million Harvard Art Museum, on Broadway between Quincy and Prescott Streets. The truck left after about 30 minutes. It is a frequent occurrence of early and late pickups and deliveries at that location. I've complained for many years about the abuses of the trucks and buses. Just the latest one.
File photo
On Wednesday September 30, 2015 at about 11:25 PM as I approached the intersection of Broadway and Quincy Street, I saw two trucks leave the driveway of the loading docks of the new $500 million improved Harvard Art Museums. One was a Ryder rental truck, which drove onto Quincy Street toward Cambridge Street. The other was a larger (30 feet) Be My Guest truck, which drove east on Broadway. About 4 or 5 individuals left the Broadway entrance of the museum at about 11:30 PM.
Friday October 9, 2015 at about 10:05 PM I arrived at my residence building. I noticed two black luxury vans with their motors running, parked on the north side of Broadway between Prescott Street and Quincy Street. I approached the drivers who were having a conversation, and said, "Excuse me. I live here. The exhaust from your buses go into my apartment. If you move the vans I will say thank you. If you do not I will call the police. It's a No Stopping Zone." as I pointed to the signs. When I got into my apartment I looked and saw that the two vans had moved. Then I heard some noise and saw one of the vans again parked outside my window.
I called to the Cambridge police dispatcher on their non emergency line. I gave my name, phone number and the location of the problem, after hearing the warning that the call was being recorded. Dispatcher Belmont asked me to repeat my name, phone number and the location of the event. I repeated the information. Good thing it was not an emergency. I've read about some of the tragedies due to the relaxed attention of emergency dispatchers. In my case the dispatchers, when they hear it is me, just ignore my calls. I gave her additional notice that the vans were operated by Harrison Coach. Their company van numbers are 1162 and 1169.
Within two minutes that van left also. I called back and relayed the updated information to the dispatcher whose name I was unable to understand. I said it was unnecessary to send a patrol car.
Thursday October 15, 2015, at about 10:00 PM walking along Prescott Street from Harvard Street toward Broadway. A full sized black bus was parked on the west side of Prescott Street near the Harvard University Faculty Club. It was parked with the engine off. I was pleased to see a different (other than outside my windows) illegal parking space chosen by the tour buses for an event at the new and $500 million improved Harvard Art Museum.
As I approached Broadway I saw a smaller white van-bus (Sunse Van Service) parked on the east side of Prescott Street in front of 24 Prescott Street, with its motor running. I crossed to the west side of Prescott near the entrance to the Art Museum. There were two black vans, with their motors off. There was another van behind them out of the two-space Loading Zone. Then one more van backed into Prescott Street and stopped in the middle of the street blocking the way. The driver began a conversation with the two drivers standing on the sidewalk. I told my bus driver joke, got some laughs and went home.
All in all it is an improvement over the tour buses and trucks parked alongside my apartment streaming exhaust fumes into my home. But it indicates that the removal of the 26 spaces on Prescott Street is still causing a problem in this neighborhood.
File photo
On Saturday morning (Friday evening) October 23-24, 2015 at about 12:30 AM I heard then noticed two trucks at the loading docks of the new improved ($500 million renovated) Harvard Art Museums. Men and or women were loading the trucks. I do not know when they arrived. They left shortly after that at about 12:35 AM.
Cherry-picker crane delivered at 5:30 AM October 26, 2015. Image captured during daylight. Seen here parked mostly on sidewalk.
On Monday morning October 26, 2015 at about 5:30 AM I heard a truck idling on Broadway between Quincy Street and Prescott Street. It was parked alongside of the new improved Harvard University Art Museums, the south side of Broadway. The driver lowered the ramp to off load construction equipment which was driven onto Harvard University property. A cherry picker crane was left for the use of Harvard University in the loading dock driveway by the driver.
Cherry-picker crane delivered at 5:30 AM October 26, 2015. Image captured during daylight. Seen here parked on sidewalk and part way into the street.
One of the lights for the loading docks came on as he worked in the driveway. Being thankful for small favors, (the truck was not parked on the north side of the street alongside of my windows), I did not call to the emergency dispatcher. Complaints about Harvard University do not get the attention of the police dispatchers. They often call the Harvard University campus police who do not have jurisdiction and they do not stop the nuisances as they are in progress. Sometimes the dispatchers just ignore the calls completely when I identify myself. They seem to react to my calls as if they are imaginary. The driver left the location at about 5:50 AM.
Cherry-picker crane delivered at 5:30 AM October 26, 2015. Image captured during daylight.
Thursday November 5, 2015 at about 10:30 PM two trucks were loading or unloading equipment at the two loading docks of the new improved ($500 million renovated) Harvard University Art Museums. One truck had just arrived sounding his back-up warning signal.
Cherry-picker crane delivered at 5:30 AM October 26, 2015. Image captured during daylight.
At about 10:55 PM a large truck from "Be Our Guest" corporation was parked on the south side of Broadway facing east in a No Stopping Zone with its emergency lights flashing. The truck blocked the single lane of eastbound traffic on Broadway between Quincy Street and Prescott Street, forcing automobiles across the double yellow line into oncoming westbound traffic. By 11:15 PM all trucks had left the loading docks and the No Stopping Zone.
File photo
Saturday November 7, 2015 a large (25 feet?) "Be Our Guest" truck was parked on the south side of Broadway between Quincy Street and Prescott Street in the No Stopping Zone. It is not clear if this truck was waiting for an open loading dock or was waiting for its companion (also "Be Our Guest") truck after doing its business at the loading dock. The 25-footer blocked my view of the loading docks. In either case it is two hours beyond the city ordinance permitting such loading.
At about 11:45 PM the 25 foot "Be Our Guest truck which was backed into the loading dock in the driveway of the new Harvard Art Museum, moved out of the driveway and back on the south side of Broadway standing in the No Stopping Zone, with its motor running. Then another "Be Our Guest Guest" truck, this one about 18 feet, sounded its warning back up beeper signal, and backed into the driveway and up to the loading dock. At about 12:05 AM Sunday November 8, 2015, both "Be Our Guest" trucks drove away. The loading dock doors were closed.
