Eric Huffstutler

August 26, 2008, (10-years) through the Citizen's Request was the first time I reported our sidewalks on our block. In September 2016 the sidewalk on the 2600 block of E Clay was replaced. I was told then that there were no funds for our block but would be for 2017. In March 2017, I was told to replace our block would require the removal of many trees and be risky due to retaining walls but, in April this year, the sidewalk across the street was replaced without concern for trees or walls. Then immediately afterward, the 2700 and 2800 blocks of E Clay were replaced which had poor retaining walls. I was told that they were not doing ours because of the trees but the sidewalks across the street and around the corner were worked around and are the same size so, what is the difference? The trees have grown 10 years older and bigger with larger roots that have grown under the walls on our block but, there are businesses on the corners whose patrons use them and so do tourists and walking tours as well as handicapped people who trip over protruding and missing bricks and undulating bricks because of the roots.

I think 10 years is way too long to wait.

The street light in front of our house has been out for a couple of weeks.

This is an issue I have reported many times over the past 8 or more years now. The last time reported was acknowledged in June 2014 (20020825986) and was being referred but nothing ever happened.

Over the years, I have seen sidewalks and crosswalks not needed or replaced on blocks not traveled by citizens whereas our sidewalk is heavily traveled being businesses on the corners. And, we now have two people with medical issues living here that needs to have safe sidewalks to walk on.

Also, this December, our house will be on tour the first time in 17 years and at least 500 people will come and go to view this historic home which means also more risk for people getting injured with loose, protruding, and missing bricks due to tree roots and settlement.

I currently see the brick sidewalk being replaced around the corner from us on E Clay between 26th and 27th Street which i am sure has been reported long after my requests over the years.

Now, how can I get this replaced and completed before December since I have waited LONG ENOUGH and LONG past the usual work window for this type of request.

This is the 400 (odd side) block of N 27th Street.

LEAF COLLECTION

This is for Church Hill in general as Leaf Collection was originally scheduled in November, pushed to January then late February. It is almost April, five months later and still no leaf collection (street cleaning). We pay for this service so when will it, if ever, it will happen? It has become mulch and washing down choking or clogging storm drains so intersections flood in heavy rains. I would think that will be harder to handle now.

Street Light in the alley access behind Pritchard Brothers, off of the 400 block of N 28th Street, is out.

The very first time I reported this issue was on August 26, 2008 through the Citizen's Request at City Hall. I reported it several times since as well as on this website (SeeClickFix). It is now going on 8-years and still no one has done a single thing about the sidewalks. Now we have a person who is battling cancer and needs level surfaces to walk on. Also, a tree in front of our house has been leaning towards the street and is pushing up not only the sidewalk but a retaining wall in front of our house, which the city will need to pay for to repair since this tree root issue has been reported numerous times without being fixed. I was told once that it was reported (2002082598) to the Richmond Brick Sidewalk Management Team but again, zero action.

Please advise because I feel 7+ years is way long enough to have something fixed and now it is causing property damage as well as a safety issue. Please advise.

We visited a grave yesterday at Oakwood (city run cemetery) and have noticed that even since the last time we visited around two months ago that the grounds have gotten horrible. In the new burial sections near the old part of Oakwood coming in from Oakwood Ave, the land is full of hills and dips, sinkholes, etc… making it hard to even walk. But the headstones are also sinking and in various stages of falling over, if not done so and could fall on someone at any minute or with a slight nudge walking by. There were a dozen more we have seen toppled over in just one section and more heading that way since the last visit. We even saw one with a total open void underneath it where the ground had sunk. It was not like this 3-4 years ago when I use to walk the cemetery. One person thought it might be the water table has risen but whatever is happening is dangerous.

What is happening there? It almost looks like an earthquake hit looking in certain directions. How can this be fixed or what is being done before every marker falls over?

Thanks

We have noted an odd rear 2-story addition being built on this house. I do not see any kind of permits for this listed online? Do not see a CAR plan submitted.

A tree that is in front of our house was reported a couple of months ago. It is leaning out towards the street unlike the others that line the block. An independent contractor hired by the city came and heavily cut a lot of dead and live limbs off making it side-heavy in the leaning direction, a threat to fall over into the street. Roots have pushed up bricks and are now pushing under and buckling a retaining wall in front of our house which will damage it to a point of toppling . The sidewalk issue has been reported the past 8-years to no avail in fixing this block yet unneeded cosmetic work is seen all about – just not safety issue ones like ours. The sidewalk down the entire block needs rebuilt and roots cut, shaved, or trees removed to allow for a proper fit and not a 2-foot path around them.

The tree in front of the address reported, is mainly dead and has been rotting away for some time. Limbs keep falling onto cars and out into the street. Now there is a large limb just hanging on top of a wire (telephone?) above the sidewalk waiting to fall onto someone walking by. It is a danger and the tree needs removed.

Two large sofas left on the sidewalk from this house up for sale. It will be out in the weather and housing rodents.

This was reported and someone came out to cut dead limbs off the tree but it was not the city doing it? previous case reference (CRS# 20020924398). The problem is that if you look down the block at the row of trees you can see this one is leaning out towards the street and has pushed up out of the ground and the sidewalk. Limbs were heavily removed from the "house" side meaning that all of the weight is now on the side that is leaning out into the street and will only add to the issue of it possibly falling. The sidewalks still haven't been addressed after 7 years of complaining.

This issue has been reported countless numbers of times to Earl Weaver of CAPS. He knows the problem, knows that this person is living there illegally yet, he will not do anything about it. The house is Condemned and still is. The neighbor is afraid to also do anything except complain to neighbors. The occupant keeps tearing down the signs but the house is not up to occupant codes nor will it be. She simply refuses to leave the property defiant of what the city says. The house is an eyesore, brings down property values, and harbors rodents and raccoons as it has for years, mostly from her own encouragement of them living there.

House has been condemned for some time. Someone is currently staying there occasionally and so illegally trespassing. The boarded up front door was opened up by them. The house does not have proper pluming and is unfinished - health hazard. It also smells.

Grass and weeds have been reported several times for this side of Jefferson Park hill along E. Marshall between 19th and 21st Streets. It is 5 feet tall or more and can not clearly see the steps going up the hill - safety and health issue as well as an eyesore.

Jefferson park - the embankment between Cedar and N 21st (1900-2000 block of E. Marshall) is overgrown to 3-5 feet deep the entire hill and a danger as well as health hazard and den for snakes and rodents along this public park.