II. BACKGROUND INFORMATION 



2-01. SITE LOCATION 



The site is located at 44 Charles River Avenue, south of the 

 now discontinued Waldo Street and immediately east of the 

 Charlestown Bridge, as shown on Figures 1 and 2 (1).* The 

 project area is currently occupied by the Rapids Furniture 

 warehouse and adjacent parking areas. The site is located at 

 44 Charles River Avenue along the east side of a cul-de-sac 

 known as Charles River Avenue. Historically, the addresses 

 associated with the site property have also included 

 36-44 Charles River Avenue (2) . The limits of the property 

 considered for this study are outlined on Figure 2 by a wide 

 boundary line which is labeled "property line". This report 

 does not address that portion of the proposed development 

 parcel that lies outside the property limits. 



The property is currently zoned W-2 for waterfront industries 

 (3) . Surrounding land use includes the Fulton Box Company, a 

 box and pallet company located under the Charlestown Bridge. 

 The Constitution Marina has been constructed to the east, along 

 the Charles River. A paved parking lot, owned by the 

 Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Works, is 

 located at the intersection of Charles River Avenue and Water 

 Street (4) . A three-story brick building, used by the Boston 

 and Maine Railroad for storage, occupies the lot east of the 

 DPW yard (2) . 



2-02. SITE HISTORY AND USAGE 



Information on previous site usage and historical development 

 was obtained from a previous Haley & Aldrich, Inc. study 

 entitled "Report on Site Conditions and History, Tudor Wharf, 

 Charlestown, Massachusetts," dated 10 April 1987. 



Site History 



The village of Charlestown, known to the Native Indians as 

 Mishawum, was officially founded in 1629 by the Spraque 



* Refer to listing of Sources of Information attached 

 to this letter. 



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