A few more failure areas. There are more further up the hill.

Please be advised that this is a private road. If the condition of the road is as bad as reported, it is likely beyond minor repair allowed by the Gloucester Code of Ordinances and Mass General Law. The City offers a paving program for private ways where the abutters petition the City to manage a resurfacing project at the cost of the abutters. Your Ward Councilor can guide you through the steps.

If you would like to discuss this issue further please contact the Department of Public Works at (978)281-9785 to set up an appointment with the Director.

Thanks for the information. Please apply repairs allowed by the city ordinance. In the meanwhile I will be speaking to my councilor and seeking an abatement on my taxes.

I appreciate a quick response but 2 minutes is truly impressive.

Please reopen and keep open until condition of road is physically assessed.

Issue 7086231 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

Issue 7086249 has been marked as a duplicate of this issue.

Re-opened

Thank you for reopening.
As per the Salem registry of deeds the majority of Colburn Street is actually on land owned by the City of Gloucester. Much of this land (parcels 1-4) was taken to build Hodgkins Cove public park.

Also, there is documentation dating back to 1965 that the lower portion of Colburn is indeed a 40’ wide public road. There should be zero question on whether repairs are to be made on this part of the street.

You are correct, Colburn St is a public way as shown on this plan, to approximately the intersection of North Kilby. The balance of the street remains private. Other than the current excavation on the lower portion of the road, the public section is in fair shape. The work necessary on the private portion, requires more than what is allowable under the ordinance. Gladly discuss this in detail with you at your convenience.

Glad it has been acknowledged that the lower portion is public vs a blanket statement that Colburn St is private. There are potholes that need attention so they don’t get much worse. Looking forward to seeing that done.

As for the portions of the street that need attention, according to the maps on the Salem registry of deeds the city OWNS the property up from Washington street all the way up past the guardrail to the Stowell’s property line. This is different than being an abutter like many other private roads. As such the responsibility to maintain the property rests on the owner. This appears to be a unique situation that a small amount of paving soon will prevent a much more expensive future project.

One of twelve abutting properties are publicly owned on the private portion of Colburn Street. The public section will be addressed as needed.

If you would like to discuss this issue further please contact the Department of Public Works at (978)281-9785 to set up an appointment with the Director.

Thank you for doing some patch work but it’s interesting to see that the holes a foot to either side of the parched one were ignored. Seems like a missed opportunity for preventative maintenance. Those will be wide open by winter’s end.