Residents being forced to fix cracked, broken sidewalks

BRENTWOOD, Pa. — Some Brentwood residents are being forced to fix their cracked and broken sidewalks.

The South Hills borough prides itself on being a “walkable community.” That's why, on May 1, the borough sent out 200 letters alerting select residents who need to make sidewalk repairs as part of the borough's five-year sidewalk restoration program that started in 2015.

Even borough manager George Zboyovsky received a letter.

“Who would have thought?” he said.

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Residents can hire a contractor, which Zboyovsky says would cost, on average, $2,400. Or they can take part in the borough's cost-sharing program.

“So from $2,400, we're looking at, say for the same 100 square feet, $900?” he said.

A $90,000 PennDOT grant has put the program into overdrive, allowing a lot more letters to go out. But some residents are concerned about paying for these repairs.

“Well, let's see if it does save us money,” resident Judy Dominici said. “They have so many code standards that you almost have to go with their contractor.”

Dominici fully admits some of her sidewalks need some repair, but says she would have preferred somebody came and spoke to her face to face and explained everything, as opposed to just getting a form letter.

Zboyovsky says if a resident has a financial issue or policy concern, the borough is ready to work with them, to make sure the work gets done and residents are treated fairly.

Cox Media Group