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Virginia-Highland

Virginia-Highland. Sidewalks February 13, 2012. Issues:. A large number of sidewalks in need of repair Damage from right-of-way trees = City responsibility Damage from property trees = Property owner responsibility

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Virginia-Highland

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  1. Virginia-Highland Sidewalks February 13, 2012

  2. Issues: • A large number of sidewalks in need of repair • Damage from right-of-way trees = City responsibility • Damage from property trees = Property owner responsibility • Worn out pavers, sewer and other issues = Property owner responsibility (generally) • Minimal City budget, minimal City staffing result in no proactive initiatives, limited reactive resources

  3. City Processes: • Report issues to DPW on line or through PEDS (publicworks@atlantaga.gov or www.peds.org) • Possible involvement of Parks regarding trees • Receive inspection within 72 hours, unless tree involvement • Receive price quote thereafter • Standard 50 foot sidewalk costs about $1000, which may be partially paid by the City depending on tree damage • Property owner contracts with the City and pays the City for repair • Inefficient because repairs are not bundled • Wait

  4. Alternatives: • To privately contract sidewalk repair, City requires: • A large bond • Architect or Engineer stamped drawings • Complete building permit process (hours in City Hall) • We contacted 11 contractors and NONE were willing to undertake sidewalk repair for a homeowner unless part of a major construction project. They can’t cover the cost of taking the sidewalk through the City for the $1000 standard sidewalk price.

  5. History: • VHCA had a 50% cost matching program of up to $500 for sidewalk replacement • There were few takers (less than 20 in 3 years) • Some of those funded were doing sidewalks anyway • The worst sidewalks – those the VHCA would target – did not necessarily get repaired • Program was discontinued • Is there a better way?

  6. Current Initiative I: Major StreetsOvercome barriers – Incent action • Identify bad spots on Virginia and North Highland • Committee evaluation by address with photos • Open request to neighborhood got a good response • Identify property owners from tax records and White Pages (done) • Provide information about the process to property owners (started) • Ask property owners individually to initiate repairs with the City (started) • Ask the Board for funding to incent repairs • Track the process with property owners so the City gets to these repairs

  7. Current Initiative 2: BundlingOvercome barriers – Incent action • Identify a few blocks to bundle for repairs • Select the bundle using clear criteria • Larger streets first – traffic light controlled • Through streets with probably pedestrian traffic • High proportion of broken sidewalks • Prepare information for property owners about the process (draft in progress)

  8. Bundling Status: • Sidewalk committee set criteria and identified broken sidewalks on several potential bundles • Sidewalk committee put out a public request to identify bad sections and combined the work of the committee and public input for a total of about 100 sidewalk segments • Sidewalk committee selected St. Charles and Barnett near St. Charles as the first bundle (hopefully more bundles will follow) • To receive the list, together with photos, email pegberg1111@gmail.com

  9. Bundling Next Steps: • Alex Wan hosted a conference call with the Committee and agreed to talk to DPW about a bundled inspection with a committee member • Next steps depend on the City’s willingness to work on a bundle with us • If yes, we get pricing for each property in the bundle from the City and offer to work with each homeowner individually to get the bundle assembled • If no, we contact each homeowner and ask them to start the process with the City, track the process with them, and encourage the City to notice the opportunity to save money by bundling construction

  10. VHCA Incentives: • Most of the sidewalks at issue have some right-of-way tree involvement and therefore at least partial City funding • As the bundle takes shape, VHCA will work on a program to pay a share of the property owner’s portion of the cost • Shared 3-ways, not necessarily evenly, the property owner potentially gets a $1000 improvement for $500 or less if they participate in the bundle • Propose funding incentives this to the Board when the structure of the funding is defined. However, the Board is tracking the Committee’s progress • A formal funding request is planned and will have to be approved prior to committing any funds

  11. Goals: • Fix the worst primary artery sidewalks • Fix a first bundle of sidewalks in the community • Structure a program that we can repeat • Get more sidewalks fixed • Get the most for VHCA sidewalk dollars

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