It's the round water pipes, square blocks marled with a "G" and what I assume are survey markers - square stones with a "WH" carved in. They are everywhere on the sidewalks of the 5 streets in the neighborhood. In total, there's probably about 75. If you send someone up and have them spend a half-hour walking around, they should be able to find them quite easily.

List of raised structures in sidewalk with approximate house numbers

Matteo St
#4 - Survey block

Santoro Rd
#2 - Gas block
#2 - Water pipe
#4 - Gas block
#10 - Gas block
#12 - Survey block
#14 - Survey block
#14 - Water pipe
#18 - Gas block
#18 - Water pipe
#20 - Gas block
#20 - Water pipe
#39 - Gas block
#39 - Water pipe
#41 - Gas block
#42 - Survey block
#44 - Survey block
#49 - Water pipe
#51 - Gas block
#51 - Survey block
#51 - Water pipe
#53 - Water pipe
#56 - Water pipe
#58 - Gas blcok (another one)
#58 - Gas block
#59 - Water pipe
#60 - metal pipe
#60 - Survey block
#60 - water pipe
#61 - Water pipe
#62 - Water pipe
#64 - Survey block
#65 - Gas block
#66 - Gas block
#66 - Water pipe
#67 - Survey block
#71 - Gas block
#73 - Water pipe
#75 - Gas block
#75 - Gas block (another one)
#106 - Gas block
#114 - Water pipe
#116 - Gas pipe
#119 - Water
#120 - Gas block
#121 - Survey block on corner
#122 - Gas block
#122 - Survey block

Christy Court
#1 - Gas block
#1 - water block
#5 - Gas block
#5 - Water pipe
#9 - Water pipe
#9 - Survey block
#12 (Santoro) - Survey block
#14 (Santoro) - Survey block

Thank you for contacting the Department of Public Works & Parks. I submitted this request and received the following work order: #1344449. By contacting Customer Service and giving them this number you can follow up with the request. If you need further assistance of have any questions, please contact Customer Service at 508-929-1300 or log on to our website at www.worcesterma.gov.

The above request only pertains to the water pipes sticking up from the sidewalk. The gas pipes and survey markers are not under the responsibility of the City. Surveyors will need to remove the markers, and the gas pipes are the reponsibility of the gas company.

It should be understood that it is not the responsibility of the DPW&P Customer Service Center to update resolutions submitted through social networking sites such as SeeClickFix. The DPW&P Customer Service request system is the official site for reporting City issues. Please provide your personal email so that we may respond directly to you with any questions and/or updates to your request.

Thank you for contacting the Department of Public Works & Parks. I submitted this request and received the following work order: #1344449. By contacting Customer Service and giving them this number you can follow up with the request. If you need further assistance of have any questions, please contact Customer Service at 508-929-1300 or log on to our website at www.worcesterma.gov.

The above request only pertains to the water pipes sticking up from the sidewalk. The gas pipes and survey markers are not under the responsibility of the City. Surveyors will need to remove the markers, and the gas pipes are the reponsibility of the gas company.

It should be understood that it is not the responsibility of the DPW&P Customer Service Center to update resolutions submitted through social networking sites such as SeeClickFix. The DPW&P Customer Service request system is the official site for reporting City issues. Please provide your personal email so that we may respond directly to you with any questions and/or updates to your request.

Obviously, I'm not a professional at this, but based on the number of items, it looks more like the sidewalk is too low (perhaps missing a layer of asphalt) rather than these items have all somehow raised up. The survey blocks are granite blocks about 3" square and appear to be intended as permanent. They also appear to be original to the creation of the streets - there hasn't been a widespread survey of the area (that I know of, at least) in the 8 years we've been here.

Your assessment is probable. When the inspectors go to the site to check the "raised" pipes, they will most likely agree with your assessment. The inspectors will make that call, however. Please feel free to cehck up on the status of the work order by calling our Customer Service Center at 508-929-1300 and give them the work order number. They will be able to tell you about any further work or comments made to the order. Thank you very much for your information and input.