Residents on Valve Street reported an unusually warm patch of pavement above an old steam line. Engineers found no leak. The likely cause is worn insulation allowing heat to reach the stones. The area has been marked for inspection. Before the markers arrived, two residents placed chairs over the warm spot.
A third brought tea. For nearly half an hour the warm patch had all the atmosphere of a very small outdoor café, except that nobody owned it and the city had not agreed to provide heating. One resident even brought a cushion before the engineers arrived with barriers. A fourth asked whether reservations were required.
City Engineering has clarified that public pavement is not an approved heating system. Residents have been asked not to gather there. One chair owner argued that the city should first prove he was “gathering” rather than “sitting individually near other individuals.” The chairs have been removed. The tea was finished before officials arrived.
File a Comment