Why So Quiet and Mum?

Is it time for a Galvan work in progress sign?

As Hudseen recently reported, Galvan's apartment building construction project at 7th & State has been in full swing for a few months. Typically, there is a crew of 10 - 15 laborers, supervisors and others, no shortage of machinery, noise, dust and exhaust fumes, all beginning at 7 am from Monday thru Friday.  You know, work in progress, like Galvan's many signs claim all over town, even at their abandoned projects! (Strangely, this site, their most active current project, does not display one of those ubiquitous signs!)

Starting about three weeks ago when installation of steel beams began, the clanging of metal from a long block away woke me like an alarm bell at 7:15 am every weekday morning.  If I was already up, I also heard it loud and clear and for much of the day. 

That all changed this past Monday when I slept until 2 p.m. (just kidding!).  There was no morning clanging of metal and no sounds at all coming from the site.  In fact, there was no one working at the site all day -- it was as quiet as can be.  None of the subcontractor's several vehicles parked on 7th Street and in the vacant lot across the street were to be seen, and no trucks were heard or seen coming and going on 6th, 7th or on State Streets.  Yesterday, it was the same thing all over -- no activity whatsoever.  Really strange!  The quiet was nearly deafening.

One of the requirements which the Hudson Planning Board made in their approval of Galvan's project was that a representative of the contractor Baxter must be on site at all times of work to take complaints (i.e., noise) or questions from any member of the public.  I know it might be impossible for Hudseen readers to believe, but I have not taken advantage of this requirement!  That's right, I have not made one complaint (yet) to the contractor, even though it is obvious that this project will turn out to be a huge, regrettable mistake.  I save those complaints for our dear mayor.

This morning, I made my way to the site which, except for the falling rain, was once again as quiet as can be. My intention wasn't to complain about the recent lack of work and progress on the project, but I did want to ask a few questions if someone were available. Luckily enough, I noticed one person on site who seemed to be a supervisor of some sort -- someone I had seen there regularly -- standing outside the open door of Baxter's trailer in a vest and helmet.  

I got his attention from the street, with a fence and about 75 feet between us.

"Hey, I'm wondering why there's no one working this week on the building."

"The rain."

"What about yesterday and Monday when it wasn't raining?"

"There was work going on."

"But your large crew wasn't here.  Who was working?"

"Engineers only.  They needed to be here."

"Only engineers could be here the past two days?"

"That's right."

"Do you know when work is going to resume?"

Instead of responding to me, the fellow looked at his phone, then looked up and said to me, "My boss is calling.  Sorry, I have to go."  He turned around to enter the trailer, not interested in answering that question or any others.  I doubt his phone rang.

Busier, louder and dustier times on N. 7th Street

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the projected completion date of this awful idea is sometime in 2025.  I believe it was the fall of next year, but I could be wrong.  Whatever the schedule is, every day that no work is happening on site during the week is another day the project is not completed, so tack on at least another three days to the expected completion date (if there ever really was one).  The Planning Board gave Galvan no limits on how long they have to complete their project, which is really, really concerning and a missed opportunity to do right by the community and neighbors of this loud, disruptive years-long project.  Anyone paying attention knows that Galvan's concept of a work in progress is a perverse one.

Unless concrete was scheduled to be poured today, there is no reason that work couldn't have been taking place with a full crew all day if one was available.  I haven't noticed concrete being poured there ever since the metal beams began arriving by huge flatbeds weeks ago.  Also, the supervisor's "engineers only" response was complete bunk!

Things have gone quiet on 7th Street, but something now smells fishy.