If they need fixing, fix them
The Historic District Commission scheduled a workshop after the regular meeting last week to consider alternatives to limestone for repairing sidewalks. Tom Buford of the Planning Commission and a former city alderman, explained that a new ordinance would allow the city to step in if a property owner does not maintain his sidewalk in the historic district. The city can repair the sidewalk and add the cost to property taxes.
City Code once required limestone, but current code allows stamped and tinted concrete in specific patterns. The stamped concrete costs much less than limestone, and Public Works has stamps available for contractors. With the increased pressure on property owners, council has discussed other acceptable concrete finishes, and they sought HDC input before proceeding.
Aggregate finishes would cost less than stamped concrete, but that term covers a wide variety of products. Exposed aggregate, for example, has pebbles protruding from the surface. Commissioners looked at pictures from around town showing various concrete treatments, from a broom finish to exposed aggregate.
Stamped concrete works well for sidewalks, but commissioner John Nuckolls said it does not work as well in large areas. He mentioned areas in front of the Post Office and the library, and said the pattern looks artificial. Nuckolls said some other concrete finish would look better in such spaces.
Commissioners said they would have some flexibility with permit applications. As an example, they mentioned the rainbow steps leading up from N. Main Street. A sidewalk can detour around a tree if necessary. They would consider a custom stamp for a sidewalk.
Chair Steve Holifield stressed that property owners should not replace limestone with concrete. “If you’ve got limestone, fix it, even if it’s tilted,” he said.
Buford said the city would not be able to tackle sidewalk repairs on a large scale since it has to pay for repairs until recovering the cost from a property owner.