4 ms·

That must be a western concept. On the east coast it's common for sidewalks to be owned by the landowner yet have to remain unencumbered for the public right of

by yardie 7y ago

That must be a western concept. On the east coast it's common for sidewalks to be owned by the landowner yet have to remain unencumbered for the public right of way. Some owners find out the hard way that they are also responsible for maintaining the sidewalk when the city hits them with a notice.

ghaff 7y ago
e.g. keeping them cleared of snow. So if you are traveling and there's a snowstorm you're basically responsible for finding someone who will clear it for you.
scurvy 7y ago
Same thing in SF. Owners are responsible for maintaining the sidewalk, and the city will let you know when you need to repair them.
cr0sh 7y ago
> Some owners find out the hard way that they are also responsible for maintaining the sidewalk when the city hits them with a notice. I live in Phoenix; in my neighborhood it's basically the same way. City comes around, tears up the sidewalk to fix something (water main or such) - and you the homeowner are responsible for fixing the sidewalk. Yay. About all the city will do is put some asphalt over the bare dirt, but if you want the sidewalk to be concrete, you have to pay for that work. Since a lot of the properties in my neighborhood are rentals, you can guess how often such asphalt patches are properly "fixed". Usually, you have to put in a blight notice to the city to have them contact the actual homeowner to get them to actually fix it properly. One of the downsides living where I do. But then again, I live "below my means" (as an SWE), and I don't have an HOA, and block construction, and I can work on my cars when I want, where I want, how I want. If that means an angle grinder and welder come out at 8pm, so be it. Neighbors can't complain until after 10pm or so, and only then for excessive noise. Take the good with the bad...
- GhettoMaestro 7y ago
  > I live in Phoenix; in my neighborhood it's basically the same way. City comes around, tears up the sidewalk to fix something (water main or such) - and you the homeowner are responsible for fixing the sidewalk. Yay. What in the holy hell? That's insane and ridiculous. Is this for both residential and commercial? (I could understand the latter slightly more.) Sounds like a great way to piss off your citizens by cutting a very small corner in what is probably already an expensive endeavor.
jagger27 7y ago
As far as I know it's not like this in Ottawa. For example, you can get a pretty big fine if you cut out a section of curb to widen your driveway entrance.

by yardie 7y ago

ghaff 7y ago

e.g. keeping them cleared of snow. So if you are traveling and there's a snowstorm you're basically responsible for finding someone who will clear it for you.

scurvy 7y ago

Same thing in SF. Owners are responsible for maintaining the sidewalk, and the city will let you know when you need to repair them.

cr0sh 7y ago

> Some owners find out the hard way that they are also responsible for maintaining the sidewalk when the city hits them with a notice. I live in Phoenix; in my neighborhood it's basically the same way. City comes around, tears up the sidewalk to fix something (water main or such) - and you the homeowner are responsible for fixing the sidewalk. Yay. About all the city will do is put some asphalt over the bare dirt, but if you want the sidewalk to be concrete, you have to pay for that work. Since a lot of the properties in my neighborhood are rentals, you can guess how often such asphalt patches are properly "fixed". Usually, you have to put in a blight notice to the city to have them contact the actual homeowner to get them to actually fix it properly. One of the downsides living where I do. But then again, I live "below my means" (as an SWE), and I don't have an HOA, and block construction, and I can work on my cars when I want, where I want, how I want. If that means an angle grinder and welder come out at 8pm, so be it. Neighbors can't complain until after 10pm or so, and only then for excessive noise. Take the good with the bad...

GhettoMaestro 7y ago
> I live in Phoenix; in my neighborhood it's basically the same way. City comes around, tears up the sidewalk to fix something (water main or such) - and you the homeowner are responsible for fixing the sidewalk. Yay. What in the holy hell? That's insane and ridiculous. Is this for both residential and commercial? (I could understand the latter slightly more.) Sounds like a great way to piss off your citizens by cutting a very small corner in what is probably already an expensive endeavor.

jagger27 7y ago

As far as I know it's not like this in Ottawa. For example, you can get a pretty big fine if you cut out a section of curb to widen your driveway entrance.