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Council Watch
City to foot the bill for residential sidewalk repairs
Officials expect their new grant program to double demand for repair
By Jessica Lyons
Glenites may not need to worry about sidewalk cracks--or broken backs--in the near future. The city has plans to spend about $2.25 million to repair sidewalks throughout San Jose.
This new sidewalk-repair program--now in effect and made possible by a unanimous City Council vote on Aug. 10--will provide city funds for residential sidewalk repairs on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Under the new program, the city will provide grants to property owners to cover the entire cost of repairing, patching and in some cases replacing cracked sidewalks. The old program required property owners to pay the majority of the repair and maintenance costs. The city paid for one-third of the repairs.
"Given the age of the neighborhoods and the age of the streets, sidewalk repair is always a critical issue in Willow Glen," says Michelle McGurk, chief of staff for District 6 Councilman Frank Fiscalini. "We've been hearing from a number of seniors for whom the cost-sharing sidewalk repair program is a hardship, so the 100 percent grant program should help a number of residents."
With the city footing the entire bill for damaged sidewalks, however, city officials expect to see the demand for sidewalk repairs at least double. They estimate that 5,600 non-rental homes would qualify for fully funded sidewalk repairs, costing $4.25 million. The limited budget of $2.25 million, however, means that only 1,500 property owners will get new sidewalks. Another 1,500 will have their sidewalks leveled by a grinding machine, and 2,600 property owners will receive temporary asphalt patches. The patches will stay until additional funds are made available.
With the current funding level, city officials estimate, it will take a minimum of three years to provide grants to all property owners whose sidewalks are inspected in the first year of the program.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
