During the summer and fall of this year, Eagle Restoration under the direction of MPI Contracting, Inc., and the design of Eisenberg Haven Associates, completed an array of building envelope improvements at The Commonwealth Housing Development located at 1285-1309 Commonwealth Ave.
Commonwealth Housing is part of a row house complex that spans from Spofford Rd. to Long Ave. along Commonwealth Ave., and has intermittent addresses along the span. By location and design, prosecuting all phases of construction during the college move-in season made for a general condition challenge. In an effort to protect the public, and our workers, we employed the Boston Police Department to guide pedestrians during construction on the front elevation (Commonwealth Ave.). While the work on this elevation consisted of stone joint replacement, stress crack repair, sealant replacement, and entrance way painting, the most daunting item was pedestrian egress during the extensive front stoop repairs. The stoop repairs required removing fractured concrete, and replacing it to form. Then, we installed a liquid polyurethane system over the entire stoop area, with fast curing properties as to allow pedestrian traffic within 24 hours. By dividing each stoop location into two sections, we allowed "business as usual" for all of the building residents during an exceptionally busy time.
The rear elevation had far more extensive work to be performed, and while the alley was not pedestrian friendly, it was truck friendly. There was daily trash collection, and deliveries of sort to contend with from multiple lift platforms. When the jockeying was complete, over 4,000 s/f of brick re-pointing, 500 s/f of brick replacement, 800 LF of metal flashing replacement, 10 rear stoop replacements, and 300 LF of stress crack repairs were complete as well.