Karyna Cheung A snow-covered loading zone on Rogers Street outside Toscanini’s Ice Cream in Kendall Square, an unplowed curbside area used for deliveries.
Some local business owners in Cambridge are annoyed with how slowly the city is clearing snow, especially around loading zones and parking spots that have stayed blocked for weeks.
On Jan. 25, Massachusetts saw its biggest snowfall in years, dumping 21 inches of snow over parts of Cambridge. Schools and businesses shut down for several days.
Even two weeks after the storm, many business owners still haven’t had the snow cleared from their curbside loading areas and parking spots.
Toscanini’s ice cream shop in Kendall Square is surrounded by big piles of snow, and their loading zone on Rogers Street remains untouched. Without cleared spots to load or unload, delivery drivers are forced to park dangerously on the street while rushing shipments.
“We have to load and unload ingredients and finished products,” said Toscanini’s owner Gus Rancatore. “Without loading zones, it becomes incredibly difficult.”
A lot of metered parking spaces nearby are buried under snow too. Some customers told Rancatore they weren’t happy with how the city handled the snow cleanup.
“There’s municipal expectations that you have [regarding snow removals], especially in metered parking spots,” said Cambridge resident Jill Wohl.
Jeremy Blaustein, general manager at Formaggio Kitchen grocery store, said their loading zone was nearly covered with snow despite his repeated requests to the city to clear it out.
“We did ask the city in a couple of different ways, and someone asked on behalf of both of our Cambridge stores, and I also put the message to my city contact,” Blaustein said. “People just kind of dug out when they dug out the other areas. A lot of them were just snowbanks for at least close to a week.”
Blaustein mentioned some customers even shoveled out parking spots themselves but felt those spaces weren’t safe.
“You’re taking your vehicle and your life into your own hands,” Blaustein said. “You see people doing [that] all over the city, because I don’t know what else you’re going to do.”
Jennifer Mathews, deputy commissioner at Cambridge Department of Public Works (DPW), explained via email that DPW focuses first on clearing streets and transit routes during snow removal efforts.
“DPW prioritizes safe travel lanes and pedestrian access during snow operations,” Mathews wrote. “Loading zones are distinct from these travel lanes and our snow operations do not specifically involve clearing loading zones (or parking spaces).”
Mathews noted some main street loading zones might get cleared during bigger DPW operations as part of keeping bus stops clear or pedestrian paths open. “When we get 6 inches of snow or more, DPW will do a snow hauling operation on main thoroughfares, which would typically clear the loading zones on those main access streets as part of the overall operation,” she added. “But other loading zones and commercial delivery areas have historically been the business’ responsibility to clear, and we haven’t received many complaints or requests on them so far this season.”
Mathews also pointed out that traditionally the city hasn’t taken care of any loading zones no matter if they’re next to streets or not.
Karyna Cheung Snow-covered loading and parking zones line both sides of the block near the intersection of Pacific and Sidney streets.
Rancatore mentioned that after past storms he noticed quicker responses from city crews removing snow. Besides blocked spots near shops like his own place, big piles plowed from roads often sit right where pedestrians cross corners – something Denise Jillson from Harvard Square Business Association says several business owners have complained about.
“The city’s responsibility, in our mind, should be in their business districts, where there’s lots of foot traffic and lots of small businesses in particular depending on that foot traffic,” Jillson said.
Josh Huggard who owns Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage at Harvard Square didn’t experience any issues after this storm since Harvard University owns his building property-and they handle shoveling their sidewalks themselves.
“Harvard is good about getting their snow people out there, as well as the city of Cambridge in tandem,” Huggard said. “I think they did a good job what they could do in a small, compact area like Harvard Square.”
Huggard thinks people should cut some slack given how tricky it must be for workers figuring out where all this huge amount of shoveled-up snow can go safely without causing problems elsewhere.
“People gotta realize that this is the worst winter we’ve had in a long time, and people are working hard,” he said. “I’m not an advocate for city workers, but I’m just saying sometimes people need to put themselves in their shoes.”
This story is part of a partnership between Cambridge Day and the Boston University Department of Journalism.
This story was updated to correct Denise Jillson’s title.
