Water flows through large pipes onto Main Avenue at the site of Mary’s Place construction. Blogfinger photos © May 9, 2015 ©
A huge blue pump brings the water out of the elevator shaft seen to the right.
The pumped water flows into a sewer drain at Beach Ave. and Broadway. Is it OK to pump that water into the sewers? Evidently it is—where else would it go?
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger Saturday, May 9, 2015.
About a week ago, the construction of the Mary’s Place foundation was halted due to water filling the depths of the elevator shaft at the site of the building being built on the second beach block of Main Avenue in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. Pumps were brought in, but they were not sufficient, so a large pump with large pipes was implemented several days ago.
When we went by today, the water was flowing slowly onto Main Avenue and then south on Beach Ave. At Embury Ave. there was a small lake, and then the river continued to the corner of Beach and Broadway, where the water flowed into the storm drain for its final destination in Fletcher Lake.
Mary’s Place, a single family house on a double lot, is destined to become “a place; a respite, for women with cancer to heal their minds, bodies and souls.”* It received zoning approval under the heading of “community residence or shelter.” If you use our search engine above, you can read the posts on Blogfinger about this controversial project.
Evidently, the deep digging for the shaft hit the water table resulting in flooding. The Gannon Company, who is the contractor, has poured cement in an effort to water-proof the area involved. Meanwhile, there has been damage to a neighbors patio which abuts the building from the Heck Avenue side. The neighbors are, of course, concerned, especially since the pumping continues despite the remedial work. With the pump running, the flood area appears dry.
This is not the first time a situation like this has occurred in the Grove. The water table was penetrated when the Youth Temple was built. That problem was resolved by the contractor, and our sources tell us that the Gannon Co. is confident that this will also be solved.
Of course, an incident like this causes many Grovers to wonder how an underground garage at the North End could be built when this Gannon project has hit water during construction of something a lot less ambitious. The North End underground garage is still scheduled to be part of the NERP, and the NEW NERP concept plan shows the garage to be quite an extensive structure. So far, no engineering report has been offered regarding that project, so, at this point, it is all speculative.
* Source: Mary’s Place web site.
HARRY NILSSON. Does it flood in New York City?
This water pumping problem has been going on for approximately 2 weeks. I am not sure if this is legal to pump water from a construction site into public drainage system. We think that the construction company hit the water table when they were digging for the elevator shift. All I know that this is water/reddish brown soil is being pumped into an area that already has problems with flooding and that is at Broadway and Beach That water eventually goes into Fletcher Lake, maybe the DEP know the answer to the pumping of construction site water into a public drainage systems and lakes.
Also, this is not good press for Mary’s Place on Main Avenue which is the site of the construction. This is a good cause and it is a shame to tarnish this project with this type of bad press.
Please remember this is the same construction company that is proposing a 139 underground parking spaces(in a flood zone) at the North End part of the town for condos, houses, a hotel and retail spaces. Please remember this when it is time to see the plans for the North End Redevelopment Project. Keep a watch out for this because this project could either make or break this town if it is not done correctly.