neighborhood news: Repair of closed sidewalk on Fourth Avenue delayed due to costs, underground vault

Since March, orange-and-white construction zone barriers have blocked the walkway — although pedestrians zigzag around “sidewalk closed, cross here” signs to walk through the area.



After two years of discussions and numerous delays, city officials and the hotel's owner say repairs will soon be made.



Embassy co-owner Gurv Singh said the project — first ordered by the city in 2008 — is tricky and costly because of the vault below the sidewalk. The plan has been to replace the sidewalk before a water main replacement and repaving project the city had planned for that stretch of Fourth Avenue.

"The city gave us a letter demanding us to repair the sidewalk immediately and closed the sidewalk off," Singh said. "At the same time, they told us they needed to replace the water main under the road on Fourth Avenue."

The city first contacted the Embassy Hotel in 2008 regarding its plans for the new water main on Fourth Avenue, senior project manager Elizabeth Rolla said. After inspecting the road, the city determined construction couldn’t take place near the deteriorating vault.

Consulting firm Robert Darvas Associates said in a Feb. 19, 2010 report obtained by AnnArbor.com through the Freedom of Information Act that the sidewalk and vault’s condition was "very questionable in relation to its ability to resist the heavy street construction stresses and vibrations that would be placed on it during street and sewer repairs and replacement."

According to one written estimate, the cost to repair the vault and sidewalk would be nearly $36,000. In Ann Arbor, home and business owners are required to cover the costs of repairs for sidewalks adjacent to their property.

In addition, the city can charge the hotel $50 a day in fees for the sidewalk closure. In theory, that would amount to a charge of close to $9,000 since the sidewalk has been closed since March.

Singh said he needed financial assistance before going forward with the project. After he unsuccessfully contacted different financial institutions seeking a loan, the city agreed to help the hotel fund the project to get it completed as soon as possible. Singh said the city also hasn't charged the hotel any sidewalk closure fees.

According to a draft of the "Building Vault and Sidewalk Repair Agreement" between the city and Embassy Hotel, the city will cover 70 percent of the cost, or $24,500, which the hotel must repay in annual installments over 10 years. The hotel must pay the remaining 30 percent to the contractor up front, and the project must be completed no later than Dec. 31.

"The city has been working with us very diligently and has been very cordial in finding some funding," Singh said. "Our business has really slowed down due to the economy, and it's taking a toll on us. The city has been gracious and is going to assist us."

Singh said the hotel has a contractor, and the plans from the structural engineer and the necessary permits have all been submitted to the city for approval. He hopes to be able to move forward on the project to repair the vault and sidewalk within a month.

Singh said the condition of the sidewalk and the signs outside the hotel have affected his business, and he hopes to have the repairs done as soon as possible.

He’s not the only one — various community members have complained to the city about the condition of the sidewalk and the signs on the Fourth Avenue block, documents obtained through FOIA show.

Ann Arbor attorney Roger Chard works on Washington Street and said the project seems to be taking an "extraordinarily" long time.

"It would be nice if the sidewalk would open up again so people could use it," Chard said. "Five or six months have gone by and the most we've seen is they've changed the signs a couple times."

Lizzy Alfs is a senior at the University of Michigan majoring in English. She is also a news reporter for the Michigan Daily. E-mail her with events and news relating to Ann Arbor’s North Side.