After years of disputes regarding zoning and territorial matters, Chelsea’s city council is preparing to ratify a landmark cooperative agreement with Eastern Minerals. The accord will culminate in substantial public improvements spanning approximately 1000 feet along the waterfront, stretching eastward from the Meridian Street Bridge. The city council will vote on the Marginal Street Corridor Improvement Project resolution at its March 1 meeting. This resolution outlines the detailed obligations Eastern Minerals must fulfill under the agreement.
The multifaceted deal addresses environmental and infrastructure concerns while enabling Eastern Minerals to expand operations. The company will oversee removal of deteriorating oil tanks previously used for asphalt storage and will remediate environmental contamination affecting its Marginal Street property. These efforts will free up an additional 56,000 square feet of waterfront property for the company’s seasonal salt storage expansion. A separate 31,000-square-foot contaminated parcel adjacent to the expanded storage zone will also undergo environmental remediation, ultimately becoming a year-round public waterfront park featuring trees, ground cover, lighting, irrigation, railings, benches and infrastructure enhancements including parking and recreational spaces. Eastern Minerals will donate this park to the city at a cost of $125,000, plus an additional $25,000 to support public events and neighborhood improvements at the site. The company will make further tiered payments into this fund based on its utilization of the 56,000-square-foot storage area.
The agreement additionally requires Eastern Minerals to contribute $500,000 toward Highland Park’s complete renovation, with the city matching that amount to construct an all-weather soccer field. The accord terminates all litigation between the city and Eastern Minerals, contingent upon the company’s compliance with every specified requirement. Marginal Street will undergo dramatic aesthetic transformation, with more than 1000 feet from the Meridien Street Bridge to the public park’s eastern boundary—designated as the Marginal Street Promenade—becoming significantly more pedestrian-friendly than it has been in 80 years. Eastern Minerals will maintain plantings, gates, period street lighting and decorative grasses throughout this section.
