I’ve been following the responses to the proposed residential towers at the Trader Joe’s site, and I’d like to share some feedback that I haven’t seen reflected in the public discussion.
My primary concern is the impact this project could have on Claremont Middle School. Given the scale of the development, it seems reasonable to expect construction to last AT LEAST three years. This would mean that many students could spend their entire middle school experience alongside ongoing construction. Daily activities such as recess, lunch, PE, and after-school programs would take place with continuous background noise. At a minimum, this could be frustrating and disruptive for both students and teachers.
I am also concerned about potential long-term effects of sustained construction noise on children’s hearing. It does not seem practical or appropriate to expect students to wear hearing protection throughout the school day, as construction workers might. It would be important to study whether prolonged exposure at these levels could pose any risk to students.
I am particularly concerned about the impact on students who are more sensitive to noise, including those with autism or other sensory sensitivities. I have an autistic child who is extremely sensitive to noise. If they were at Claremont during this prolonged construction, there would be a significant impact on both academic and socio-emotional learning, as well as mood regulation.
In addition to noise concerns, I would like to raise questions about student safety. This age group tends to come with increased independence, along with at times, poor decision making, which can be a very dangerous combination. Many students use the bike lane on Miles Avenue between College and Forest. If this route is impacted or closed during construction, it will be important to provide a safe and practical alternative. Students are unlikely to take significantly longer routes and may not always make the safest decisions, particularly after a long school day.
Thank you for considering these concerns as part of the planning process.
—Anonymous
