Sidewalk Repairs in the Mission

Last year we reported that the Department of Public works was cracking down on broken sidewalks in the Mission as part of the Sidewalk Improvement and Repair Program.

A year later, with approximately 170 repairs made to heavily-trafficked sidewalks — half of them in the Mission — it’s time to pay the bill.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors will hold a hearing on Tuesday on a proposal to add an assessment to property owners’ property-tax bills to cover repair costs. The assessment would apply to owners who have not yet reimbursed the city, as well as those who requested to be billed in this manner.

Property owners are responsible for the maintenance of sidewalks in front of their property. DPW occasionally inspects heavily-trafficked sidewalks and notifies the owners if repairs are needed.

Owners can choose to make the repairs themselves or have the city do it. The latter can be cheaper, since the city can waive the permit fee for repairs.

The Broken Sidewalks of 24th Street Remain

Earlier this month a coalition of community members, city agencies and nonprofit organizations decided it wanted to repair the sidewalks of the lower 24th Street corridor from Mission to Potrero streets.

A study by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority concluded that old trees cause most of the sidewalk damage. That put the repairs under DPW’s  jurisdiction.

So will DPW step in to make the repairs? Maybe.

Christine Falvey, DPW’s spokesperson, said the department would repair the sidewalk damage under its jurisdiction. The corridor has been identified as a priority over the next four years.

However, the city’s dismal budget situation could delay the repairs. An article in The Examiner points out that DPW is facing a budget shortfall and repair backlogs.