Unstable gorge wall hampers High Falls restoration

Instability of the gorge wall beneath the former High Falls festival site has forced city officials to abandon restoration work there and turn their attention on other parts of the historic district.

A report due in May will detail the extent and pace of erosion, possible remedies and associated costs. Options could include permanently fencing off the festival site; partially demolishing that section of the gorge wall and abandoning an already-evacuated two-story building below; or erecting a concrete and rock retaining wall to hold everything up.

Neither option is particularly appealing aesthetically or financially, said City Engineer James McIntosh. For now, the city has ceased work at the site of what was an 1888 shoe factory, saw mill and old water wheel pit visible from a covered platform. Barricades wrapped in snow fencing limit access. The focus has become an intense imaging survey to track movement of the wall over a six-month period.

Its not safe for the contractor or anyone to be working over there, McIntosh said. The wall underneath ... has eroded away so you kind of have this cliff, and as you get lower and lower the wall is moving in.

City Council met in committee on Thursday and approved Mayor Thomas Richards request for an additional $23,000 to redesign restoration of the old Browns Race, shifting work westward beyond the area of concern to the old Triphammer Forge Water Wheel. That would increase LaBella Associates consulting and design fees to $152,000 so far.

Restoration efforts also will refurbish foot bridges, as well as seal and re-water the wet well along Mill Street. City Council approved a total project budget of $610,000 back in 2009, to be paid for with a state grant and $290,000 in city matching funds.

The gorge wall stability study by LaBella is a separate $85,000 item.

Developer Ben Kendig has restored and renovated four High Falls buildings including 40 Commercial St., which now sits abandoned. He leases that property from the city, and also has the city contract for upkeep of the festival site above.

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While glad to hear about the planned work on the Triphammer Forge, he is waiting like everyone else to gauge the possible impact of LaBellas findings about the gorge wall.

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Unstable gorge wall hampers High Falls restoration