All posts in the topic unpaved streets (Short link)

2007 Dec 03 21:59 UTC

Does Minneapolis have a lot of streets that have never been paved?

My question stems from the fact that, in the Como neighborhood, we
have four blocks of streets and alleys along our north edge that have
never been paved, plus a section of Talmadge Ave. and two blocks of
33rd Ave. SE, in east Como, that has never been paved. No sidewalks
in the latter or along Winter St.

These are streets that lie in the Ward 1 part of Como (recently, most
of Como has become part of Ward 2).

The CM is proposing that property owners in the north stretch decide
whether they want paving or not, given that there is a huge cost for
a "first-time paving" project.  One young homeowner got residents to
sign a petition to ask for paving and new curbs, but evidently the
owners of commercial/industrial property don't like the idea of being
assessed for paving, and of course the absentee landlords are always
loathe to put money into streets they never traverse.

Just wondering how common it is in our city to have streets that are
still covered in what--back east where I come from--we called "tar
and chips," the next step up from simply grading a dirt road and
spraying it with water in the summer and fall to keep the dust down.

Also wondering how common it is in Minneapolis for members of
Council, or Public Works, to ask people if they want their streets
upgraded or not.

In 2004, we had streets redone, curbs repaired and sidewalk segments
replaced in north Como. Nobody asked us if we thought the situation
warranted doing that; we were told about it and when it would begin.
Whether we could afford the assessments or not was not taken into
consideration. We simply got letters telling us how much we would
pay. The project was in their schedule and would be done in the
proper rotation.

The CM says that it's an issue of Public Works's budget and plans in
CLIC, and that when he was reminded in 2004 that Public Works's "Como
North Street Renovation" project didn't include those four blocks
north of E. Hennepin Ave., he said he'd look into it. Nothing was
done. Now, it seems, because those streets aren't scheduled to be
renovated in any CLIC budget or plan, it will take another two-three
years or more to put the project in the plan and budget. If, of
course, the landlords and industrial properties agree to do it in the
first place.

This seems strange. Can anyone clarify how this works?

Connie
Como, in Southeast Minneapolis