From valerie at vanngroup.com Wed Jan 8 11:00:19 2020 From: valerie at vanngroup.com (Valerie Vann) Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2020 11:00:19 -0800 Subject: [OldNorth] Materials for Thursday's Old North Meeting Message-ID: Re: Sidewalks The most important marker, the subdivision SW corner with both arrows (Lot 1) 6th & G intersection, was destroyed during construction of a new handicap ramp a few years ago (2014?). Pubic Works is supposed to consult about this, but fails to. (I was ill during this period and didn't get out and about until late in the day it happened.) The next most important, the "1913" marker mid-block 600 G block, and the block arrows are endangered due to settlement of the sidewalk that occurred after installation of sprinklers years ago. Some arrows throughout Old North have been destroyed during other sidewalk replacements. Also fences constructed right next to the sidewalks have resulted in chipping of the edges. (The original block corner arrows indicated that the lot lines were intended to be 6 inches or so from the edges of the walks. The new fences make it hard for pedestrians and bicycles to pass on the narrow walks. In other areas, bushes, trees (some volunteers thanks to the squirrels and birds), vines on fences, etc. protrude into walkway right of way and also endanger the sidewalks. Another unique maker on 7th Street (North side) was destroyed recently in the renovation of the house as a business, with new sidewalks and the bike rack. Sidewalks on the F Street side of the 600 block are in terrible shape, with broken areas, settlement, etc. Some of the breakage has occurred when heavy vehicles are driven over the walks (roofing and other contractors sometimes do this), not being informed that the historic walks are not capable of supporting big trucks and equipment. Another and related issue: Street Trees Street trees are in terrible shape all over the neighborhood. Lawn abandonment, drastic water conservation efforts, loss of yards space to parking, clueless renters have resulted little or no irrigation all through the dry season. Also lots with fences often essentially abandon responsibility for the planting strip between the street and main front yard where the street trees are. Some of the little trees recently planted are suffering from last summer; some have been vandalized. Despite my best efforts all summer to keep my street trees and "shared lot line trees" watered, two of them are affected by the total lack of irrigation on one adjacent lot. This is also unfair because it puts all the watering on my utility bill. Before any more planting of street trees, installation of fences and "low water landscaping" (often meaning "no water") in Central Davis, these issues need to be addressed, and clarification of who is responsible for maintenance of the streetside planting strips, especially impacts on street trees. Valerie Vann valerie at vanngroup.com ============================================ > Hi all, I'll be there. The new font on the proposed agenda is a nice touch. I am again impressed with the comment document. Items such as preserving the dates in the sidewalk along G had never occurred to me but > seem so obvious. Thank you to everyone who spent time crafting this document and identifying such lovely details of our neighborhood that need > mention at this point in the planning process. Take care, Gerrit On Mon, Jan 6, 2020 at 11:14 AM John Meyer wrote: >> Old North Board and Interested Parties, >> Attached are materials for our meeting on Thursday at 6:00 pm. You???ll >> recall this meeting date was moved up to this week as our comments on the >> Downtown Plan are due January 14. Materials attached include our proposed >> agenda, a copy of the draft comment letter on the downtown plan (no specific comments have yet been received) and draft minutes for our December meeting. >> -John Meyer >> _______________________________________________ >> oldnorth mailing list >> oldnorth at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us >> http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/oldnorth > _______________________________________________ > oldnorth mailing list > oldnorth at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us > http://www2.dcn.org/mailman/listinfo/oldnorth