From a resident on the unit block of S Street NW:
We have had the brick sidewalks for a couple of years now and my opinion on brick sidewalks is that they are highly overrated. If any work has to be done on piping below ground the bricks are torn up and when they are re-laid they do not match. Weeds grow in between the bricks and that is OK for those homeowners that do maintenance but too many just let the weeds grow. Shoveling snow is harder because of the unevenness. The bricks crack and break and I don't know when or if they will be fixed. It would be better if they city could use a colored concrete (cement?) and stamp to look like bricks.
We have had the brick sidewalks for a couple of years now and my opinion on brick sidewalks is that they are highly overrated. If any work has to be done on piping below ground the bricks are torn up and when they are re-laid they do not match. Weeds grow in between the bricks and that is OK for those homeowners that do maintenance but too many just let the weeds grow. Shoveling snow is harder because of the unevenness. The bricks crack and break and I don't know when or if they will be fixed. It would be better if they city could use a colored concrete (cement?) and stamp to look like bricks.
6 comments:
i'm a huge fan of the look of brick, but to be honest, for sidewalks, i'm partial to pervious concrete:
http://www.perviouspavement.org/
and yes, with stamping, and staining, you can gets some beautiful looking concrete.
still, with the number of times my sidewalk gets ripped up every year, it will look horrible no matter what material.
For anyone who is so gung ho on brick sidewalks, take a look at the 1700 block of U St, or any of Georgetown.
It becomes necessary to remove trees, otherwise they creep into the usable walkway and make it un-usable. Especially with all of the efforts we're undergoing with Casey Trees and the Riversmart homes program, it seems silly and short sighted that people are beating this drum this loudly.
I just wanted to reitterate my comment that we need to continue to write our elected official(s) and their staff about this issue.
Regardless of the surface, I'm tired of having our sidewalks in complete disrepair with metal grates and half compacted asphalt chunks all over the place.
Continue sending those emails!!
ANC Reps:
Stu Davenport: studavenport @ gmail.com
John Salatti (albeit not his jurisdiction): john.salatti @ gmail.com
Ward 5 Councilman:
Mr. Thomas, Jr.: hthomas @ dccouncil.us
Councilman Thomas, Jr.'s staff:
Chief of Staff: Grace Lewis 202.724.8067 glewis @ dccouncil.us
Director, Policy & Strategic Communication: Victoria Leonard 202.727.8204 vleonard @ dccouncil.us
Director, Constituent Services: Ayawna Chase 202.724.8024 achase @ dccouncil.us
For years now I have stated that the city need to be using pervious concrete. I have even had the organzation who represents the pervious concrete industry speak at some community meetings. It has been used in major cities in the US...think we can get you all to get on board with that! Brick sidewalks being put down in DC is a complete waste of city dollars, when we have so many more residents in need of a lot better things than brick sidewalks!
The Commiss
Barrie Daneker
202-986-8781
I want to see some effort from Harry Thomas' staff, not just brusque dismissals from Vicky Leonard Chambers. Keep those emails coming--the only way to get Thomas and his staff to spend any time and effort on the issues we raise with them.
You know what? I strongly disagree. I live on Todd Pl and I like brick sidewalks.
Eli
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