Town of Lexington

Historical Commission
David Kelland, Chair
Marilyn Fenollosa
Wendell Kalsow
Frank Kern
Sally Zimmerman

1625 Massachusetts Avenue

Lexington, MA 02420
781-698-4517

April 21, 2015

To: Patricia A. Leavenworth, Chief Engineer, MassDOT
Brona Simon, Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission
Board of Selectmen, Lexington
Carl Valente, Town Manager, Lexington
John Livsey, Town Engineer, Lexington
Lynn Hopkins, Chair, Lexington Historic Districts Commission
Re: Project File No. 607409, Reconstruction of Massachusetts Avenue
The Lexington Historical Commission has now had a chance to review the plans for the above
project and has the following observations and comments.
1. The introduction of three new traffic lights in addition to the two already in existence at the
fire house and at the Follen Church will have a seriously negative effect on the historic character
and the village feel of the East Lexington Historic District.
2. We particularly object to the overhanging lights shown in the design plans. These will create
a commercial look to what is now an historic residential neighborhood.
3. The elimination of crosswalks, if this includes the one at Independence Avenue, would
increase the danger to pedestrians crossing to the mail box at Curve Street and those crossing to
buses, school buses and the stores at Independence Ave.
4. The East Lexington Historic District includes two properties individually listed on the
National Register of Historic Places and, of course, the local Historic District is on the State
Register. We assume that this project has been submitted to the Massachusetts Historical
Commission for the required review which will require minimizing adverse effect on the 120
properties included in the District (Section 27C, Chapter 9).
5. According to the plans, the roadway is to be 60 feet wide with taking of private and public
property to achieve this. Since that width almost exists now, we request minimal destruction of
trees and stone walls that help define the historic character and village feel of East Lexington.
The Commission also asks that any modifications proposed here be sensitive to the preservation
of antique cast iron pull stations, above-ground cable car electric junction boxes and other relics
of a bygone era lining Massachusetts Avenue.

6. There appear to be proposed dedicated parking areas along this stretch of road. We are
concerned about the growing problem of commuters who park on Mass. Ave. now and on the
narrow side streets and leave their cars all day to take public transportation to work. Fire trucks,
school buses and utility vehicles are impeded by these cars as are Mass. Ave. residents exiting
their driveways with compromised sight lines.
For the Commission,
David Kelland, Chair