The Observation Deck

Looks as if we are in the grid that will be assessed for sidewalk compliance this year. Our sidewalks are marked but we are having a really hard time getting information from the city. I was told we would get a letter in a month. Yep A MONTH! I'd like to start getting quotes but with no information it is a bit hard. Getting a quote from a concrete contractor in August means a spring job, is that early enough for the City. Before if you got hit for compliance it was 90 days a $1k a day beyond that supposedly. Rumors are everywhere! Does anyone that went through this process last year have any information? Some sidewalks were mostly marked, can we request that the unmarked blocks be done? Who is the city contractor? Cost and how it will be assessed? Seems to me that a notice should have gone out prior to marking. The neighborhood is in a bit of a panic because of the lack of information. I can't even get an email reply from the city. Thanks for any information!

We got tagged last year for the entire length of sidewalk in front of our house on Maple Cliff. I seem to recall that a 1/3 to half of the 22 houses on the street were tagged.

Some of the neighbors with small numbers of tags were given I think 90 days to repair them. However, since I had 5-7 stones to replace I had until today I believe to complete the project.

In fact I need to call the Building Department to see if we are going to get a letter indicating that we are now in compliance.

Did the City do your or did you get your own contractor. I have 9 blocks to be replaced so I'm a little leery of giving control to "some contractor" I've never met.

Toni C Northrop wrote:Did the City do your or did you get your own contractor. I have 9 blocks to be replaced so I'm a little leery of giving control to "some contractor" I've never met.

Toni

We have three, two were broke during the George Administration, one by East Ohio Gas
while fixing a gas line. Both were noted, and last time we were cited, we showed reports,
and they noted them, and no one fixed anything.

It would seem more than a little over the top threatening residents $1K a day for non-compliance.

Here are some other discussions from the past that may help:
http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=9853&hilit=sidewalk+repair

http://lakewoodobserver.com/deck/viewtopic.php?t=2577&highlight=sidewalk

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Hi Jim,

I've followed and been involved in Shoveling for Kids for years. Even made the news one year for getting a "shovel in" in place. I looked through the blog but didn't see anything about the assessments being done now, am I missing something? The City is going through a grid each year and making sure all sidewalks are in compliance. I think this is year 2 of the process. I personally wish they had done it earlier. My issue is now that I am "in" the grid the City is not giving us information in a timely manner. I help run the Northland Block Club. I have had numerous emails just trying to get answers. My sidewalks are marked now what...how much time? How much money? Some of these folks are on a fixed income and they are scared they can't get the money in time to fix them. They really do threaten a thousand dollar a day fine if you don't fix the problems within a specific time frame. Maybe not now with this program but we have had several neighbors who will give you full accounting of the city and how they fix building code violations. I just wish what Lakewood is doing was a bit more transparent so that people could plan accordingly. The information should be readily available as this process will effect everyone in Lakewood at one point or the other. The contractor I had here today is scheduling into late August/ September so if I get my letter August 1 that is the end of September/October for work, can't pour concrete when it is cold so time frame gets to be an issue. We want to fix the sidewalks. We just need help to figure out what needs to be done and we are not in the know. Toni

Someone walked down Orchard Grove today with spray paint and marked up everyone's sidewalks. Is this related to the conversation you are having here? What is "sidewalk compliance"? I tried calling the city. I tried browsing and searching the City's the website. I have not been able to find any information. As far as I can tell they marked both sidewalk sections that are uneven as well as those that are even, so there doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to it - in fact I briefly concluded it must be graffiti. I am in favor of safe sidewalks, but what are they marking level sections for, if it is in fact part of this "sidewalk compliance" thing?

My neighbor and I had do do ours last year. There are specific guidelines as to what is acceptable and not acceptable regarding sidewalks. I guess in some cases you can have your walks leveled, and in others, you'll need to get them replaced. You will probably be given a letter, and time to get going on the project, as well as a list of possible contractors, (at least we were given that last year) but bottom line? You'd better get going on it. Getting a good cement person is probably not going to be easy at this point in the season. You might also do well to get together with your neighbors to combine your jobs with the contractor you choose.

Talk with people who have had sandstone or concrete work done. See whether they were satisfied with their contractors. I was very pleased with the people we hired. Start getting your ducks lined up. Above all, don't get upset, that never helps.

As I vaguely recall last year, you were not charged for a leveling permit, but there was a permit fee charged for new replacement concrete walks. It will say in your letter what their procedures will be for this year. Be sure that your contractor knows that the city wants a deeper pour on your driveway blocks. (and if you're wise, you'll extend that deeper pour for several feet on either side of your drive) It would not be a bad idea to locate your property pins (a metal detector works) and score your new walkways at those points, as well.

One other VERY IMPORTANT POINT: When your concrete is poured, keep an eye out for people who can't resist attempting to write on it, walk on it, etc.....

I personally think this should be a shared expense with the city, as some cities apparently do, but that's not the way we do it here.

Hope all this helps...

Back to the banjo...

Chad... yep you are "IN" the grid. You should get a letter in about a month telling you that you need to fix your sidewalks. Wouldn't it be nice if we could find something or anything telling us more information. Luckily, Gary was very kind and gave me a quick run down that I have been able to share with the Northland Block Club. He and another neighbor had their walks dinged last year. (Thank you so much for the call Gary!!!) I think this grid extends to Larchmont. I may be wrong but it is somewhere in there. Looks like a good time to be a cement contractor!

Yet another example of the importance of a vehicle/platform such as The Observer/Observation Deck ... residents helping other residents by disseminating information that perhaps maybe should have been disseminated by City Hall.

Peter Grossetti wrote:Yet another example of the importance of a vehicle/platform such as The Observer/Observation Deck ... residents helping other residents by disseminating information that perhaps maybe should have been disseminated by City Hall.

+1

I'm grateful for all the information given here - we are on Orchard Grove and got tagged as well. When I got home the day it was done my husband was excited that the city was going to be fixing the sidewalk in front of our house - even though it's not good news for us that we have to pay it, I definitely prefer to know about it well in advance. No one likes unexpected huge expenses, especially as we contemplate what projects to tackle for the summer, windows or fence.

If I remember, from when we went through this 10 years ago or so, the city will handle it for a certain amount of money per "bad square". Does anyone know what that cost will be for this time around? Thanks!

I'm hearing $187.50 per block but that is unofficial and could change. Going rate is between $175 and $200 per the contractors I have had out. Allegro is City contractor. Some have been happy some have not been happy. I prefer to have a bit of control over work being done at my home so several neighbors are hoping to work with a contractor together. (And we want a bit more done than the City would do like to do such as walkways up to the house, driveways, etc..)

Toni,

Several of my neighbors and I used the same contractor a few years ago. It was a good way to go. We found a cement contractor who was doing other work in the neighborhood and he quoted us, along with maybe 3 others. The one doing work around the corner got the job. Was very responsive and you are right, it is great to have some control over who is doing the work.

Last year, our street was in the target zone and I think more neighbors worked collaboratively to use the same contractor. It benefits all involved.

Christina

To follow up on my post above, we had a private contractor handle it. The contractor had done my neighbor's sidewalk last fall in accordance with the tagging.

Since we wanted to fix our driveway apron to lower it to near street level, we plugged that into replacing the sidewalk at the same time.

I started getting estimates in February and March and the work got done in May.

Fair warning, one of my neighbors contracted with one of the names on the City's list and that company took the deposit and did the demolition but never came back. They ended up talking to my contractor to form it up and pour the cement. I understand the Building Department is aware of that contractor and struck them from the list.