Should homeowners have to repair sidewalks or the city?

[The Straight Story]

(MD) Annapolis residents are invited to speak at Monday's City Council meeting on legislation that, if passed, would repeal the city's sidewalk fund and put the responsibility of repairing damaged sidewalks back on the homeowners.

Last week, you heard what the mayor had to say on the issue.

In addition, both The Capital and WBAL spoke to homeowners about the legislation.

Take the poll below and leave a comment to share your thoughts on the issue.


http://historicannapolis.patch.com/articles/poll-what-are-your-thoughts-on-the-sidewalk-fund

In his November monthly video update, available on the city of Annapolis' YouTube channel, Mayor Josh Cohen addresses two hot-button issues—the city sidewalk fund and the Market House.

Last week, Cohen introduced legislation that aims to to repeal “the City’s responsibility for repair and reconstruction of sidewalks located upon the City right of way or upon private property when the general public has traditionally used those sidewalk," as noted in the ordinance.

Cohen notes in the video that “up until a few years ago, the responsibility to repair sidewalks as well as the liability rested on the private property owner that abutted the sidewalk.”

The city took on the responsibility and created a sidewalk fund—but the fee was repealed after public complaint, Cohen said in the video.

http://historicannapolis.patch.com/articles/mayor-talks-sidewalks-market-house-and-holidays

[KamaAina]

1. Question: Who repairs the sidewalks in front of foreclosures?

:scared:

[SoCalNative]

2. If I have to pay for sidewalk repairs

does this mean that I can sue the city when the roots from the trees, that THEY planted on the parkway in front of my property,
cause the damage to the sidewalk in the first place?

[The Straight Story]

4. Good question, will be interesting to see if things like that come up in the debate (nt)

[Robb]

3. That's a great way for the city to lose its right of way. (nt)

[theophilus]

5. I hope Marylanders show good sense. The taxes we pay have, historically,

been very much worth it for all the things that local and federal gov't. does. I wish Teabaggers would realize what a good deal they have gotten. If taxes are wasted, then the system needs fixing but you tend to get a bigger bang for the buck with local government than private companies would provide. IMO>

[benld74]

6. STL pays 1/2 property owner pays 1/2 - IF walk is on city easement way

[surrealAmerican]

25. My town does the same.

n/t

[Skidmore]

7. In our village, the home owner is responsible. But then.

we are unincorporated.

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. So you are supposed to repair concrete?

[snooper2]

12. You don't repair concrete you replace it :)

[Liberal_in_LA]

14. You hire someone to do it or do it yourself?

[snooper2]

19. I'd do it myself but I've got a little concrete mixer in the back yard

and can actually make a form that is square :P

Now, my driveway pad needs redone. So, do I pay a couple guys at the DART station $100 each to bust it up and load it on a trailer or do it myself?

Too much to do not enough time....

[Skidmore]

13. Yes we keep the concrete sidewalk in repair for the section

that passes in front of our house, as do each of our neighbors.

[Liberal_in_LA]

16. how? what is involved?

[Skidmore]

21. If large cracks appear and the concrete breaks due to

harsh weather or settling over time, it may be necessary to dig up the old section, level the bed under the section, and make a frame and pour a new one. Small cracks can sometimes be fixed with a temporary filler. It depends on how much damage occurs. My husband usually takes care of this himself. Some people hire out and others don't bother. You can tell who is community minded by looking at the sidewalk in front of houses.

[MountainLaurel]

20. That's the law in New Orleans

Homeowners are responsible for sidewalks adjacent to their property. Looking around my neighborhood, the only time a sidewalk gets fixed (other than curb cuts at corners) is when the homeowner does it. Conversely, there seems to be little to no control over what a homeowner does to the sidewalk, so we've got sidewalk bits that are extensions of bricked driveways, blocked by open fences, essentially covered with vines, etc. In one area we frequent, there's a house whose upper balcony is located over the sidewalk itself. Very weird.

[Downwinder]

8. Self Delete

Note to Myself: Read the OP before posting.

[gratuitous]

10. If you want the City to do it, everyone's gotta pay, but nobody wants to

You can't get something for nothing, so what city services should be sacrificed for sidewalk upkeep?

Here in Stumptown, we do it the way Annapolis used to do it. It's a pain in the neck sometimes, because the trees in the parkway (between the sidewalk and the street) belong to the property owner, but you can't cut them down without the City Arborist giving the okay. But many sidewalk problems are caused by those same trees, which were planted many years ago before folks quite realized what a toll they'd take on sidewalks. They use different types of trees now, ones where the roots don't grow quite so laterally.

The good news is that replacing some of your sidewalk isn't all that difficult to do, especially if a tree root has busted up the concrete for you already. It's a bit more expensive if you have to hire a contractor. And it's really expensive if you miss the deadline and the City has to do it. What is most irksome to me is that while the City inspectors are zealous about citing homeowners for hazardous sidewalks, they're quite a bit more lax when it comes to business properties. Some sidewalks have been in a bad state for years (thinking notably of the south side of Powell between 82nd and 92nd, particularly where it goes by the McDonald's).

[snooper2]

11. I'll take care of my own sidewalk as soon as Oncor Electric pulls that fucking pole

out of my side yard...

Actually, I own both sides of the sidewalk as the easment was eliminted a long time ago...damn pole is in my side yard though between house and sidewalk.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

15. We should have school kids repair the sidewalks.

Not everyone's cut out to be a janitor.

[PeaceNikki]

22. true

:thumbsup:

[DURHAM D]

17. I will pay for my own sidewalk repairs as soon as they refund the

original rather large assessment I had to pay many years ago to the city.

[marlakay]

18. Then it should be their property that they can fence off

I say that because if someone trips on a hole in sidewalk they would sue homeowner then.

So why should homeowner be responsible for strangers causing damage to sidewalk they have to repair?

[Luminous Animal]

23. In San Francisco, the property owners are responsible. They are also responsible

for keeping the trees in front of their buildings (and not on their property) trimmed.

[Liberal_in_LA]

30. wow. LA just goes around trimming the trees and fixing everything.

[itsrobert]

24. Put a toll booth in and charge

to use the sidewalk. Put a chip inside everybody so they can be assessed fees for using the sidewalk.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

26. So will that raise homeowner insurance rates?

If someone has a slip and fall on the sidewalk, will the homeowner's insurance be dinged instead of the city in the ensuing lawsuit?

[Earth_First]

27. Quite literally, the $1,000,000 question... n/t

[AngryOldDem]

28. Everywhere I've lived, this has been SOP n/t

[madfloridian]

29. Our city has always paid for street and sidewalk repairs? I thought most did?