Sidewalks are blooming like crepe myrtle trees in and around the neighborhood. Two updates from two neighbors:
As Shel Silverstein says, 29th Street has been “where the sidewalk ends.” For years, our children have biked uphill and downhill in the middle of the road. Worried parents stand in the front yard reminding kids for the umpteenth time to watch out for cars. Neighbors and dog walkers greet each other in the street, and conversations are cut short when cars barrel through heading for home. Broken pavement along part of the block was almost worse than no pavement, and one resourceful neighbor even put out orange safety cones to warn the unwary. For the elderly, taking a stroll down our block just wasn’t an option, until now.
After years of requests, and fielding concerns about hazardous broken pavement, street repairs, drainage, and landscaping, we finally have sidewalk from Brandywine to Albemarle along 29th Street. Thank you DDOT!
So bring out your kids, your dogs and your lemonade, and let’s take a walk around the block! – Mary Beth Ray, ANC 3F03 commissioner
The sidewalk going in on the 3800 block of Albemarle is already getting its share of pedestrians, even though DDOT is awaiting flexible pavers to finish the job. And when DDOT moves in to do a sidewalk they aim to please – new driveway lips, even some repair of homeowners sidewalks which are often on public space, and surrounding sidewalks can get a facelift, as well.
The southwest corner of 38th and Albemarle and 38th street north of Albemarle are getting a substantial makeovers. And the new curb ramps are just lovely. Thank you DDOT. We pedestrians appreciate a good sidewalk. – Marlene Berlin
Bob Summersgill says
Let’s call this a start. We have a lot more streets that need sidewalks. Part of the problem is that you have to petition DDOT for a sidewalk. It should be the other way around. DDOT should assume that every street gets sidewalks on both sides and neighbors should have to petition and the ANC should have to actively oppose for DDOT to consider not installing a sidewalk.
Tracy Johnke says
You’re right, Bob. The unofficial motto of my hometown is “it’s not the end of the world, but you can see it from here.” Yet every street in town has a sidewalk on both sides. So imagine my surprise when I moved to the big city and discovered missing sidewalks, even along some major throughways. How very rural.
Bob Summersgill says
That said, I’m very glad we’ve gotten another sidewalk gap filed.