Comments on: Photos: Scenes from Ann Arbor’s Sonic Lunch

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 23:06:35 +0000

Cosmonican, I’ve also observed a few spots where very tasteful sculpting was done that included entries to the sidewalk leading to the house, or along the driveway, or whatever, so I agree that some of this seems to be discretionary improvement. Love to know the answer.

By: cosmonıcan

cosmonıcan — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 21:56:26 +0000

#7 Vivienne: The one at Spring & Summit includes a bump up on the street side of the sidewalk, to make a well for a tree, not to accommodate the grade of the hill. That is gardenscaping, not for the enabling of the disabled. Maybe there are codes and regulations about these, it’s all new to me.

My garden could use such a thing, but my sidewalks are new, so the answers do not effect me — I’m just curious for informations sake.

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 21:31:11 +0000

Re #7: I’ve noticed these walls here and there too. They seem to be constructed where the sidewalk previously led to a set of steps down to the street. Construction of the retaining walls where a high rampart was allows a gradual slope down to the ramp and eliminates steps. I think they are pretty nifty. Presumably they are part of the cost of the retrofits to fit accessibility issues. Maybe from transportation funds?

Yes, I’m pro-millage.

By: Donna Estabrook

Donna Estabrook — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 20:59:08 +0000

Thirteen dollars more a year in millage is well worth it to me, not so much for monetary reasons but for avoiding the hassle. A couple of years ago we replaced one sidewalk slab for, I think, about $125. However, the time spent going to the information sessions held by the city to make sure we knew what was required, finding a contractor, deciding what would be involved in partnering with my neighbors to hire someone together to lower the price, all added up to a lot of time. Then, for most of the summer you would see a cement mixer on your block pouring a slab and then 2 days later another cement mixer pouring another slab 2 doors away. Then the city inspector crisscrossing the neighborhood inspecting the sidewalk bit by bit as it was done. This seems inefficient to say the least. The city can hire a contractor to proceed in a more organized way. As far as getting together with neighbors to hire someone to do the work, we already have a group designed to do just that – it is called city government. The sidewalks are public thoroughfares and should be maintained with public money.

By: cosmonıcan

cosmonıcan — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 20:50:00 +0000

Regarding Sidewalks (millage or not): I’ve noticed some sidewalks include retaining walls in the concrete structure. This was included in handicap ramps recently installed along Summit Street at Spring, and at Daniel; also many other locations around town after a brief survey, not just at corners either. The walls at Daniel extend quite a few slabs to the north, and look to have been replaced for the sake of the wall, not the handicap ramp.

So, who is currently paying for these? And if the city takes over, how can I get them if I want them? I’m sure for the most-part it has been the homeowners responsibility, but it needs clarification who has paid for some of these corner sidewalks currently and in the past.

By: Mary Morgan

Mary Morgan — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 14:27:45 +0000

First, I love the fact that this comment thread has primarily related to the sidewalk issue. That's so...Chronicle. Here's a list of names to go with the faces in our photos. Thanks to everyone for being good sports! 1. Local musician Chris Bathgate. 2. Tim Berla (in red T-shirt), a local musician and member of the Ann Arbor park advisory commission, with Roger Rayle, leader of Scio Residents for Safe Water and an advocate for the cleanup of the Pall-Gelman 1,4 dioxane underground plume. 3. Brett Lenart, the Washtenaw County staff member who manages the county's brownfield redevelopment program. 4. City planner Jeff Kahan (left) with Jerry Hancock, the city of Ann Arbor's stormwater and floodplain programs coordinator. Hancock is also a local musician, best known for being a member of the band Corndaddy. 5. Shannon Brines of Brines Farm in Dexter. He's also a member of the Ann Arbor public market advisory committee. 6. Tim Berla (see #2) and Adrian Iraola of Park Avenue Consultants, which is overseeing the construction of the underground parking structure on South Fifth Avenue. 7. Marsha Chamberlin (right), president of the Ann Arbor Art Center and chair of the Ann Arbor public art commission. 8. Jim Carty (left) with his son PJ. Carty is a former Ann Arbor News sports columnist who's now an attorney with the law firm Bodman, working in their Ann Arbor office.

By: Marvin Face

Marvin Face — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 02:41:23 +0000

For the record, I believe the city should stay out of sidewalk maintenance and it should continue, as it always has, to be in the hands of individual property owners.

By: Jim Carty

Jim Carty — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 23:55:40 +0000

PJ loves that he’s on the internet. The only problem is he stares at the picture intently and waits for himself to move.

By: Sabra Briere

Sabra Briere — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:52:51 +0000

Lost some words there. Second paragraph:
The sidewalk millage would cost an additional $13 per year.

By: Sabra Briere

Sabra Briere — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:51:30 +0000

Dear Casey,
Sometimes even the best efforts by the City go awry. That’s so in this case — the survey provides the information about the proposed millage, but can easily confuse.
The average amount, for an average house, is $214 — and to extend the street millage would mean that you continue paying what you are paying now to maintain streets.
The would cost an addition $13 per year. It would take over 10 years of paying in to equal the amount you spent to replace one slab.
I’m sorry that this survey explanation was confusing. I hope you will consider continuing the street maintenance millage. (The City maintaining the streets, which is why it takes me so long to get downtown now, and last year made Plymouth Road impassible.) I also hope you will seriously consider supporting the sidewalk millage. (The City is also making certain all the sidewalk slabs still in need of replacement are being replaced, at the expense of the property owner.)
Thank you for reading the Chronicle.