UPDATE & CLARIFICATION: A previous version of this story said that private property owners would no longer be required to pay for repair and maintenance on sidewalks that abut their property. However, this was language from the original ordinance, which was modified before a vote by the Atlanta City Council on Monday. According to Sally Flocks, founder of Pedestrians Educating Drivers on Safety (PEDS), property owners will still be on the hook for repairs after the city’s Public Works Department exhausts money in the infrastructure improvement and maintenance account that has been identified for sidewalk repairs and other sources to pay for repairs. Read more from Flocks about the issue at this link.
Here’s the original story:
The Atlanta City Council unanimously approved an ordinance at Monday’s meeting authorizing the Commissioner of Public Works to create a prioritized list of sidewalk maintenance and repair locations throughout the city. The legislation was introduced by Councilmember Mary Norwood.
Funding for the repairs will come from a portion of the city’s infrastructure maintenance and improvement account and all other applicable and available funding sources until such funding is exhausted.
“I would like to commend my colleagues for approving this legislation that will ease the burden that has been placed on our residents for too long,” Norwood said. “The city’s sidewalks are public assets that provide benefits to the entire community, not just property owners or abutting property owners near sidewalks.”
“This allows us to budget for sidewalks annually and to improve our sidewalk system over time, without putting the city at financial risk,” Norwood said.
“This (legislation) will enable departmental management to manage repairs efficiently and deliver repairs much more cost effectively,” said Peggy Berg, Co-chair of the City Council Sidewalk Task Force sub-committee.
Ok I paid appx. $950.00 a couple of years ago to repair my sidewalk. Do I get a refund?
Ok I paid appx. $950.00 a couple of years ago to repair my sidewalk. Do I get a refund?
This sidewalk has been reported so many times. Is it because of the location? Can a neighborhood south of Grant Park get some attention?
1412 Boulevard Southeast Atlanta, GA 30315, USA
This sidewalk has been reported so many times. Is it because of the location? Can a neighborhood south of Grant Park get some attention?
1412 Boulevard Southeast Atlanta, GA 30315, USA
The sidewalks on Monroe and neighboring streets are heavily utilized by Piedmont Park visitors parking on residential streets and will hopefully be high on the list as the Beltline and park events have only increased pedestrian traffice in recent years.
The sidewalks on Monroe and neighboring streets are heavily utilized by Piedmont Park visitors parking on residential streets and will hopefully be high on the list as the Beltline and park events have only increased pedestrian traffice in recent years.
THANK YOU! I think that picture was made on Lakeview Ave. N.E. (my front door). That beautiful dogwood tree was planted there by my daughter. She dug it up from the woods that joined her back yard over thirty years ago and planted it here where my parents lived until they died Hopefully, it can be spared. Everyone thinks it’s one of the prettiest dogwood trees in Atlanta. Many people park here and walk to Piedmont Park and the sidewalk will make a vast improvement to this area. Frances Bouchillon
THANK YOU! I think that picture was made on Lakeview Ave. N.E. (my front door). That beautiful dogwood tree was planted there by my daughter. She dug it up from the woods that joined her back yard over thirty years ago and planted it here where my parents lived until they died Hopefully, it can be spared. Everyone thinks it’s one of the prettiest dogwood trees in Atlanta. Many people park here and walk to Piedmont Park and the sidewalk will make a vast improvement to this area. Frances Bouchillon
The sidewalk ordinance passed on Monday did not shift responsibility for paying for repairs from property owners to the City.
Instead, it directs the Public Works Department to use money in the infrastructure improvement and maintenance account that has been identified for sidewalk repairs and other sources to pay for repairs until that money is exhausted. The City, however, maintains the option of billing property owners for repairs after public money allocated to sidewalk repairs has been exhausted.
By 2020, the new infrastructure account is likely to have over $20 million. That will be for repairs to roads and bridges as well as sidewalks, so it’s unlikely it will allocate sufficient funding to sidewalk repairs to even keep up with the estimated $15 million cost of the annual sidewalk disintegration.
The ordinance is a good step forward, but people shouldn’t expect it will be enough to repair many sidewalks on neighborhood streets.
The sidewalk ordinance passed on Monday did not shift responsibility for paying for repairs from property owners to the City.
Instead, it directs the Public Works Department to use money in the infrastructure improvement and maintenance account that has been identified for sidewalk repairs and other sources to pay for repairs until that money is exhausted. The City, however, maintains the option of billing property owners for repairs after public money allocated to sidewalk repairs has been exhausted.
By 2020, the new infrastructure account is likely to have over $20 million. That will be for repairs to roads and bridges as well as sidewalks, so it’s unlikely it will allocate sufficient funding to sidewalk repairs to even keep up with the estimated $15 million cost of the annual sidewalk disintegration.
The ordinance is a good step forward, but people shouldn’t expect it will be enough to repair many sidewalks on neighborhood streets.