Sidwalk talk wastes a lot of time at council meeting
No major news from Thursday's Village Council meeting. They were asked to approve a sidewalk on McDonald Street. Neighbors stood before the Council explaining why a sidewalk would be a good idea, since it can be a dangerous place to walk, especially at night. Most neighbors were from Gifford Lane, so this begs the question: is this all because somone on Gifford Lane wants a sidewalk on McDonald or is it really needed for everyone?
What's interesting is that the Gifford Lane neighbors only want the sidewalk for a couple of blocks, basically to accommodate them (from Oak to Grand). Why not do this for everyone and make the sidewalk the whole length of the street? Or why not save the money and just have all of Gifford Lane walk on Matilda which is already paved and safer to walk on anyway since it has less traffic?
The whole discussion was a waste of time for neighbors and the council. In the end the Village Council voted to have the sidewalk approved and to have officials from the city and county at the next meeting to discuss it.
What's interesting is that the Gifford Lane neighbors only want the sidewalk for a couple of blocks, basically to accommodate them (from Oak to Grand). Why not do this for everyone and make the sidewalk the whole length of the street? Or why not save the money and just have all of Gifford Lane walk on Matilda which is already paved and safer to walk on anyway since it has less traffic?
The whole discussion was a waste of time for neighbors and the council. In the end the Village Council voted to have the sidewalk approved and to have officials from the city and county at the next meeting to discuss it.
posted by Tom Falco at 12:30 PM
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6 Comments:
In time both 32 Ave & 27th Avenue will be widened & the sidewalks will be part of the package. You may not see a connection, but I noticed several days ago safety officers were issuing numerous citations for parking on sidewalks on Gifford & Oak and I would suppose @ other locations, the fine being $28.00. With dense housing in center Grove came an increase (I'm guessing) in cars, by about 500%, if not more and they mostly have to park on the easement right of way and the sidewalks forcing everyone into the street. Contractors are required to install sidewalks in front of all new housing. It will take 50 years to impliment a through sidewalk system throughout Center Grove.
I have to say that I don't understand the sidewalk situation in center grove. This is one of the few "walking communities" in south florida and we have NO sidewalks. I have 2 small children and I frequently have to walk with them in the middle of the street where cars are whizzing by. It is dangerous. None of the sidewalks are continuous. The contractors put them in front of new construction, which is great... but no one requires old properties to add them. I guess the city would rather have people getting run over in the middle of the street. They spend lots of money on traffic circles ... but they can't add sidewalks? I just don't get it.
I have to agree with lee1103 - I am a dog owner and find myself constantly walking in the middle of the road either because there are a) no sidewalks or b) the sidewalks are obstructed or incomplete on a house-by-house basis. I would support ANY move to add sidewalks in our community.
-Stephen Murray
I have to agree with Lee1103. I am a new mother who lives on Mary St and find it extremely difficult to safely walk with my daughter in her stroller. I find myself walking on sidewalks that will just end with out warning. Some have ramps for strollers, and some don't. The cars drive so fast that it is just plain unsafe to walk on the streets with a baby. With all the property taxes the gorve residents pay, the least the city can do is install sidewalks for its residents. If we have the money for useless traffic circles (that only make walking more dangerous because now the cars don't even have to stop), then I am confident we can find funding for sidewalks throughout center grove.
yes, and how is it that home owners have been allowed to infringe and extend their property right up to the curb ? (ie) Douglas has no room to walk.
I agree with everyone above. As a runner and a dog owner, I find it very frustrating that almost none of the streets in the Grove have a continuous sidewalk. The explanation is that many of the older properties never conveyed an easement to the City, and I have also been told a lot of people don't want sidewalks. There's this thing called eminent domain. It might be a good thing if the City would use it where the majority of residents want to walk safely in their neighborhood. It won't help much, though, if the people who constantly park their cars across the sidewalks keep doing so.
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