City officials have had the asphalt islands recently installed at Emerson and East 3 Streets painted to look like cobblestones.
Officials had to step in this week to try to calm a burgeoning text war being fought over the city's 311 system over the new raised islands that has pitted people who don't understand the preference for asphalt over trees and bushes and people who love how asphalt acts as a dog and addict repellent.
311 is now filling up with complaints such as this one:
Is this really what the final product of the Emerson St. And East Third St. Project going to look like? Just a bunch of tar pits? I thought the plans we got on our doors had some green space. Maybe some trees or shrubs. It looks awful as a tar pit. Not an improvement.
The city is now replying to these complaints like this:
This project has been developed working closely with the community to address safety and parking concerns at the intersection of Emerson St, East Third St, and H St. The design that is currently being constructed, which had approval from the community, has been balanced to maximize available parking to the extent possible, enhance safety, and improve accessibility. The issue of landscaping was discussed during the community process and, based on feedback from the community; a preferred design was chosen that did not include any landscaping elements. The final design will incorporate a red imprinted brick pattern in the areas of the sidewalk that are currently paved with asphalt. The installation of the imprinted pattern is scheduled to be installed soon.
Opponents of any greenery at the islands are jumping onto 311 and filing their own, less diplomatic responses:
Will people just get a life. I for one think it looks fine. It looks WAAAAAY better that it did before this process started and it was a dirt patch. Yes that's right a dirt patch, all of those who are complaining prob never knew that because you (a) didn't live here then or (b) live no where near here. This is NOT a park, this is something to help with traffic and parking so trees, bushes and all that other stuff can be found at any of our neighborhoods multiple parks. Thank you COB for adding parking and making the area more ped friendly. Do not listen to the "caught in southie" followers malarkey.
Au contraire, an Emerson Street resident who wants trees retorts.
One opponent of anything green explained the love of tar:
Please leave the tar island just the way it is. We do not want trees or shrubs that will attract disease ridden mosquitos, dog walkers who will allow their dogs to urinate and leave feces, or another place for the junkies to leave their used syringes behind. Furthermore, we think the uncluttered tar island has a clean look to it. I, for one, say "Bravo" to the city for cleaning this area up. Thank you.