The downtown development authority says according to a city ordinance, property owners are required to pay half of the sidewalk repairs.
By Melissa Smith
Monday, July 20, 2009 at 6:09 p.m.
Read more: Local, Business, Community, Sidewalk Concerns, Front Street, Traverse City, 400Th Block
TRAVERSE CITY -- "It's a safety hazard and it's ridiculous to doctor it up like they did. It just made it even worse," says Rhonda Hodge who works at the Clipper Groomers on Front Street.
It's a sidewalk with raised cement that's also raising a lot of concern. On the 400th block of Front Street in Traverse City business owners say the cracked, uneven sidewalk is a definite safety hazard.
"I've witnessed a lot of people falling and some have gone to the hospital. It certainly is not good for business in this area. It's unsightly," says owner of Christopher Jon Salon, Doug Hillock.
"Oh what a mess! I mean I was walking to work and I fell and went down on my knees and we've had customers who have fallen," says Hodge.
According to the Traverse City Downtown Development Authority a city ordinance requires property owners to pay 50% of sidewalk repairs. The city will pay the other half.
"There was an effort to actually re-do that sidewalk back in 200. We had obtained a grant for improvements. We talked to property owners about re-doing those blocks but we couldn't get 50% of the property owners to agree to pay," says Rob Bacigalupi with the DDA.
Since then, the sidewalk has only worsened despite recent patch work to try and fill in some of the holes.
The business owners say they understand the city's policy, but they still think that safety is the main priority and that the city should take responsibility for repairing the sidewalk.
"If we're looking at beautifying then I think that 'yes' the owners should chip in for that. But when you're talking about maintenance to sidewalks so that people don't get hurt and people have fallen including my son, I think that's the city's responsibility to make sure that the public is safe," says manager of Visit Up North Vacation Rentals, Jack Woods.
"So you don't think businesses should have to pay 50%?" asks 7&4 News.
"No, I don't think so. We shouldn't have to maintain city property. That's the city's job, that's why we pay taxes...It's always frightening to me especially some of the elderly people, like I say it's truly a hazard and needs to be taken care of," says Hillock.
The city commission plans to discuss the sidewalk policy at their meeting next Tuesday. The DDA says they are willing to work with business owners about any sidewalk repairs.
