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New cement sidewalks?
A reader pointed out that the RTD is reporting that the brick sidewalk on 23rd between Franklin and Grace will be replaced with concrete within the next few weeks. PM says,”I was under the impression that the city is normally supposed to replace brick with brick. Is that not right?”
The slope on 23rd Street in Church Hill between East Grace and East Franklin streets is a steep one. The brick sidewalk on the east side needs some serious repair.
“The sidewalk has become an obstacle course,” reports Larry P. For years, it has been pocked with holes and areas of loose and missing bricks.
“Since there are now so many destinations at the bottom of the hill,” Larry P. said, “more and more people have a need to use that sidewalk.”
Mary-Hope Gangwer, spokeswoman for the city’s Department of Public Works, said crews investigated yesterday morning.
“The brick sidewalk will be removed and replaced with a brand new cement sidewalk,” she said. “Our ultimate goal is the safety of citizens in Richmond. . . . Weather permitting, the project will begin in two weeks and be completed by the end of February.”
TAGGED: St.John's District
What a waste! Why don’t they level the ground underneath the bricks and then cover it back up with the existing bricks and new ones where they’re needed? I supposes it’s more costly, but I’d prefer not to see the bricks thrown away.
The brick sidewalks create permeable surfaces, which basically means that they help reduce stormwater run-off and flash-flooding during superfluous rainfall since the rain can percolate into the ground. Granted this is on a small scale, but cement should be discouraged.
Poor form Richmond Public Works, poor form.
This might be the perfect time to contact our new/old council person and see if she will respond to the concern about replacing a brick sidewalk in a historic district with ‘a brand new cement sidewalk.’
I agree and plan to send an email right away and follow up with a phone call this afternoon. Here’s the contact information.
I am for keeping the brick sidewalks just as much as anyone but in this instance, the city is right. Bricks, if no one has noticed, are very slick when they are wet. With the proper texturing, concrete is a much better surface for that hill. Now, I know this will not set well with the presevationists in the area but from a public safety, and a libility standpoint, it is much safer.
I believe the city has the same desire to maintain the historical character of the neighborhood. In fact, I was told by a City official that it was in the plan to replace existing concrete sidewalks along Broad Street with brick. Brick will be used to enhance the streetscape whenever possible unless its use will compromise public safety. In this case, I agree with the City’s determination to use concrete.
homie – by “along Broad Street” do you mean the stretch between 19th and 21st only or do you mean throughout Church Hill? Is there a timetable on this? My particular portion of sidewalk on Broad has collapsed into a sinkhole, and it would be nice to see the concrete replaced with brick.
From the information that I received from the City, the plan is to brick all existing concrete sidewalks along Broad Street. I believe the brickwork stops at around 25th Street (guess). All walkways from 25ish to 36th are concrete. Most in rough shape. From what I understood of the conversation, it was included in the neighborhood master plan as a capital improvement but I’m not sure about the timing of the project. I have had alot of success getting walkways and treewells addressed by simply going to the city’s website and putting in a service request. Sometimes a followup email was required after the “completion” date expired. However, I have always found these departments (Public works and traffic engineering) to be extremely professional and responsive. Here’s a link to the website.
I would request that a repair is done on the collapsed portion. Unless there is currently brick there, I doubt they will replace it with brick at this time. When the project actually begins, they would replace with brick. I’ve often wondered why more homeowners in the Hill didn’t make use of this city’s site more often… There are some terrible sidewalks in the neighborhood and the city has always responded to every request I’ve made. They have also installed tree-wells around my property where none existed (simply, by request). I offered to supply the trees and the labor to install them.
I just wanted them to cut the tree wells into the concrete walkways. They did–and the trees look great. The squeaky wheel….
Oh, this is that really steep stretch of 23rd just before you reach the Market. I should have looked at a map earlier. That place is pretty bad, but I’d still like to see the bricks saved. Perhaps they could build a series of steps out of the bricks…
Well, whatever the city’s going to do there has already begun.
follow-up from the RTD: Concrete, then bricks to fix sidewalk