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ASHLAND — A reader recently asked us what was going on with Ashland’s sidewalks.
Why do some of them stop halfway down a street?
That could be because property owners didn’t want to pay to install a sidewalk, or half of the street used to be outside city limits, Mayor Matt Miller said.
“Sidewalks are the responsibility of private property owners. So if I live on Sandusky Street, I am responsible for the sidewalk that passes in front of my home,” he said.
“Not just keeping up that sidewalk, making sure that it’s in good passable condition, but also keeping it clear of debris and snow and ice in the winter.”
Installing or renovating sidewalks can cost thousands of dollars, so sometimes property owners either opt not to install any, or allow them to fall into disrepair.
Sidewalks can also be neglected when lots sit empty. This was the case in an area near Stone Brook Circle, where residents came to the city to try to get a sidewalk installed in front of a vacant lot.
“You’ve got this nice community, high end community, beautiful new sidewalks in front of everyone’s property, but then it stops and it doesn’t start until you get over to the next house,” he said.
In recent years, the city has started requiring that new buildings also include a sidewalk. But for older properties, the city has struggled to enforce the requirement that property owners maintain their sidewalks.
The city could, theoretically, fix the sidewalks for the owners and tack the cost onto the property’s tax bill. But Miller was very hesitant about this potential solution.
“I don’t know that this is a good one. Because we don’t want people to be scared thinking that this is what we’re going to do, even if you present it though it was just an idea,” he said.
Instead, Miller wants the city to begin setting aside money every year for sidewalks. The city could start to fix and install sidewalks along the city’s major roadways, so that most residents are within a block or two of a good sidewalk, he said.
Then, they could branch out into side streets.
“Are we going to be able to fix all the sidewalks and bring them up into wonderful condition in one year? No. But we can’t do that with the streets either. But you’ve got to start somewhere,” he said.
The city could draw from ODOT grants, American Rescue Plan money, and the local business community to get Ashland’s sidewalks fixed, he added.
