Brooklyn, NY – Homeowners on a number of blocks in Midwood are grumbling after recently receiving summonses requiring them to repair sidewalks – even though, many say, the concrete problems detailed on Department of Transportation inspection reports don’t seem to be there.
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“I don’t see anything broke. What am I going to fix?” griped one resident as she pointed to a hairline crack that runs through one square of otherwise smooth sidewalk in front of her home. “I don’t have that kind of money.”Her neighbor held up his DOT summons demanding that he replace three squares of sidewalk. One of them bears a hand-sized scrape at the edge. The others look fine.
The two homeowners and others spoke on tape to freelance journalist Shimon Gifter. People from around the neighborhood say their blocks have been hit with inspections whose findings are extremely strict, questionable, or unexplainable.The summonses state that repairs must be done within 45 days. Otherwise, the DOT can do the work and bill the homeowner. If the bill isn’t paid, a lien is placed against the home, among other collection measures.
According to two residents of East 8th Street between Avenues K and L, summonses were issued to virtually the whole block.“My parents got a summons in the summer, paid $950 to have it fixed, and they got a letter that it was not done well. The contractor came back and said that in fact one of the squares needs more work but one is one hundred percent fixed and needs to be appealed,” a resident emailed to Hamodia.“I called the same contractor. He came to see my sidewalk and claims there is nothing wrong and does not want to do work on it,” she added.
Some said in interviews with Mr. Gifter that they felt the findings of inspectors had more cracks than their sidewalks, but had repairs done, and paid for it, to avoid headaches. Some others complied by hiring contractors to make repairs, and paid for it, were told by city inspectors the work wasn’t good enough.
DOT spokesman Montgomery Dean told Hamodia that no enforcement initiatives are at play. He said inspections are usually spurred by complaints to the city. He was unable to provide statistics on number of summons issued lately as compared to the same time last year.
Mr. Gifter’s interviews revealed that a lot of homeowners do not realize that they can pick a contractor on their own; it’s not necessary to use city contractors. In addition, certain situations are not the homeowner’s responsibility, such as when the cause of sidewalk damage is tree roots. According to resident feedback, the city isn’t being stubborn. Appeals are often leading to summons dismissals.
here we go again trhese summons are issued by contractors that if not responded to will do the work they decided needs to be done and then bill you for inferior work at inflated prices and additional squre footage never done. this happened several years ago
You have to appeal but you waste time and money doing so. SOMEONE SHOULD BE FIRED NOW!
This is a racket by the city’s contractors. The contractors do the inspections and than get paid exorbitant rates to fix the problems.
Rent 3 1/2 foot mixer. Buy a few bags of Quikrete, some rebar and a little plywood. Total cost to you, maybe a hundred bucks. Irritation to the tax farmers, priceless.
Boro park got hit by this big time this past August!
This is long overdue. The sidewalks in heimeshe neighborhoods are in terrible condition. I wish they would make the same crackdown on violations in willy and BP. The repairs are relatively simple, cost only a few thousand dollars, and improve both the safety and aesthetics of the neighborhood.
the city should fix it!
The city came and planted a tree in front of my parents house. When they cut the sidewalk, they cracked it as well. it was very visible that it was caused by the saw. My mother called 311 to complain about it, and they said the will send someone out. When they came, THEY ISSUED MY MOTHER A SUMMONS FOR A CRACKED SIDEWALK!!!! CHUTZPAH!!
So why don’t all you Mike the Manch supporters give him some more terms?
The summonses are issued by DOT employees in response to either a trp and fall lawsuit on the block or a 311 call. In response to either the DOT employee inspects every sidewalk on the block. If the damage is caused by a tree, the homeowner is not billed for those squares. There are dangerous sidewalks in the city, but they are citing homeowners like me who have minor imperfections in the cement.
I would look for a way to personally sue the lying contractors, and perhaps the crooked government officials that sent them out to steal my money.
The people who received the summons should check – sometimes the “CITY” trees that are causing the breaks in that case they should call 311 and file a request for street repair.
That’s what happened to my sidewalk, and others that I know.
Fortunately, where I live, there are no sidewalks on my block. However, within a short distance, there are sidewalks, many of which were in dire need of repair. Recently, the local municipality repaired many of the defective sidewalks. However, not all of the sidewalks have been fixed. Also, there are many selfish homeowners who have trees or large bushes, which block intersections, causing potential problems for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. There should be more of a crackdown by the local authorities, in that regard. Incidentally, when I lived in Brooklyn, many years ago, we received a letter from NYC stating that our bushes had to be removed, as they were in close proximity to an intersection. The bushes were promptly removed. NYC never bothered us about the cement sidewalks. However, every once in a while, someone would ring our bell alleging that they fell and were injured on our sidewalks. I think that many of those complaints were unfounded, but some people saw a way to make a fast buck. Also, the NYC Fire Department would periodically come to inspect our home, and once wanted to know if we had fire escapes.
#11 I’ve never repaired that kind of sidewalk. The ones where I live are just regular concrete slabs which are pretty easy to repair. It was pretty simple to use patching concrete or, in one case, to break up the old square and pour a new one.
I’d suggest going to a masonry supply store or even one of the big box hardware stores. They have knowledgeable salespeople and plenty of books describing the entire process.
Two words of advice… Concrete takes special care as the weather gets colder. And have the city come out and outline utilities first. You really don’t want to cut through a gas or sewer line.
# 11 – the way to do it, is pick up the “HIGH” bluestones, and remove earth under it until it is level
My mother an elderly woman got the same summons. And her entire block it has nothing with trip and fall its a new scam from the city. There was actually nothing wrong from the sidewalk.
Do it the UK way, sidewalks are the council’s responsibility.