URGENT: 244 Fountain Street - Developer is Removing the Slope

Open letter to Councilman Curtis Jones,

Our home shares the hill with 244 Fountain Street. I stand the residents of Germany Hill and it’s neighbors in an urgent plea asking you to assist us in stopping the removal of the hill on the 244 Fountain Street property. It is our understanding that construction cannot take place on a hill with an over 25% incline. If you come out to see what is happening, you will see that the hill is being systematically removed to avoid the restriction. Many of the trees, some of heritage distinction, have also been removed. It appears that the developer is attempting to circumvent safety and environmental laws at the expense of the citizens and existing properties on Germany Hill.

We need urgent attention. The hill cannot bear another day of dirt removal. Please reference the photos below taken from the public parking lot located beside the property. The photos do not capture how much dirt has been removed already. As the saying goes, “you have to see it to believe it.”

A day care sits immediately in front of 244 Fountain. My neighbors and I are quite concerned that removal of more dirt puts my home and others on top of the hill in jeopardy, and possibly the day care below. A stream can be seen on the 244 Fountain property at the bottom of the slope. To our knowledge no environmental impact or engineering study has been attempted prior to the massive removal of soil and trees. We are not engineers. We just recognize what is happening is potentially dangerous and we desperately need help to stop it until proper utilization of existing ordinances are in place to protect the properties, people, and complex ecosystem already here.

I invite you and other government representatives to our neighborhood to see the damage first hand. I believe you will see why this email is marked urgent. I and others in our neighborhood would like to meet with you as soon as possible.

We urgently request that the City step in with the developer and immediately enforce existing restrictions on steep slope development and heritage tree removal for our protection. If you are unable to assist us, please advise us on how to proceed and do whatever you are able to enable that connection.

Most Sincerely Yours,