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October 23, 2009
Trees & Sidewalks
I am considering whether to replace the cement in the (uneven) sidewalk in front of my house. It seems to me that the problem is being caused by the roots of the tree and I wondered if the mason would be able to ameliorate this without damaging the tree. Doing some research, I came across a city program called Trees & Sidewalks, where they say they will fix your sidewalk themselves and do everything to preserve the tree.
Has anyone had any experience with the program? Do they actually follow through? If I sign up for the program, could that possibly lead to my getting a violation from the city?
And if I do it through the city, would I still have to get landmarks permission on my own?
Comments
I've heard that you can get in trouble for having a private contractor do anything vis a vis the trees & that some agency from the City must do it. The same people told me it's done free - part of Bloomy's tree campaign.
Posted by: Arkady at October 23, 2009 12:13 PM
The following website provides more information about issues such as yours.
I have not found 311 service requests particularly effective when it comes to pruning, but that's the route you're supposed to follow. When you call, be sure to keep a record of the date and service request number: http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_permits_and_applications/forestry_service_request.html
Posted by: vinca at October 23, 2009 12:40 PM
I don't know if it is the same program as the one you mention but awhile ago I submitted my application to a DoT/Parks program to repair tree damaged sidewalks and an inspector from Parks came out, took a look, and and gave me a score (I got a 86 out of 100). The higher the score the higher the priority. More than a year passed without any word when a contractor posted a permit on out gate for sidewalk repair. They came, ripped out the old damaged sidewalk, and replaced it with new. They did about 18' total. No charge. A few days later a guy from DoT came out and inspected... A few days later a trucks from Parks came by and threw down some mulch on top.
I understood that this program had run out of funds. There was a similar program for free iron tree pit guards but I missed that deadline.
Posted by: IMBY at October 23, 2009 12:41 PM
I had the sidewalk in front of my home replaced last year because of similar issues. As per the poster above, the general feeling that I got was that if your sidewalk is not really bad, the city would never get around to you because they repair the most dangerous situations first. As to getting a violation for signing up, anything is possible especially now that the city seems to be using that sort of thing as a revenue stream.
I found a mason who got the permit from DOT and had a root slicing appointment as per the last paragraph on page one of the parks department pdf http://www.nycgovparks.org/web/download/download.php?file=/sub_your_park/trees_greenstreets/trees_sidewalks/Trees_and_Sidewalks_Brochure.pdf I can't remember exactly what the guy from the city said, but he basically told the mason what to do in terms of slicing the roots to make sure that it was done properly and the tree was protected.
It took about two hours to break up the old concrete and pour the new stuff and it turned out that no roots needed to be cut because the soil had built up over the years from the rain and pushed up on the concrete, so I guess that was lucky.
One caveat: I would make sure someone watches the concrete as it dries as I had to shoo off at least two delinquents who were trying to write their names in the concrete before it dried.
Posted by: SJ at October 23, 2009 12:52 PM
Thanks for the input! I don't think my situation is that dire, so probably the city won't do it for free. SJ, did you like the mason who did the work? How much did it cost?
I was also thinking, while I was at it, of replacing the cement in my areaway with bluestone or something, I guess I'd need a mason anyway to do that.
Posted by: 146steven at October 23, 2009 1:16 PM
I used Buscarello and Sons and liked them. They also did my neighbor across the street's sidewalk and replaced their apron concrete with bluestone. They did a pretty good job all around and my neighbor's house looks good with the bluestone and the blue/gray concrete sidewalk. Also, I was able to significantly enlarge the tree pit parallel to the house, so hopefully this problem won't reoccur in the future. As to price, I can't quite remember as it was wrapped up in some other maintenance work I had done at the time, but 2k or so comes to mind.
Posted by: SJ at October 23, 2009 1:27 PM
I've got a tree pushing up my bluestone sidewalk. I called 311 a couple of weeks ago. I'll see what happens - if they get around to doing the inspection and the root trimming. I'll want to be on hand to make sure they don't break the slabs. The emailed me the service request # right away.
This is the lookup of my SR (personal information redacted)
SERVICE REQUEST #: X-X-XXXXXXXX
CREATED ON: 10/05/2009 4:23:21 PM
REQUEST TYPE: Root/Sewer/Sidewalk Condition
DETAIL: Trees and Sidewalks Program
INCIDENT ADDRESS:
INCIDENT BOROUGH: BROOKLYN
STATUS: The Department of Parks and Recreation has reviewed this request and will visit the location to investigate the condition.
LAST UPDATED ON: 10/06/2009 8:54:46 AM
NEXT UPDATE DUE: 13 Day(s)
Posted by: Bklnite at October 23, 2009 2:47 PM
Also, I had some concrete done this week. Was looking to do a 100 sf area between steps and sidewalk either in 2" bluestone or (tinted) concrete. I got a couple of estimates and it would have been 2700 - 3000 for bluestone. Chose to go for the cheaper concrete option, tinted to (I hope) match the bluestone sidewalk. Only been a couple of days, so not sure how it's going to look as it ages. You do need to watch it...make sure your guy gets caution tape up and you still have to watch the kids trying to leave their mark.
I used Shahab who came recommended on the forum here by Petebklyn. About 10 bucks a square foot.
Posted by: Bklnite at October 23, 2009 2:56 PM
VinRoy relaid some pavers for me - he can do entire sidewalks too. 646 554 4513
At a rental I manage I had a 20' sidewalk cast. One flipping dog was allowed to walk on it while it was wet & I just got a citation from the city that it's a violation because the 8 or 10 pawprints are more than half an inch deep!
Posted by: Arkady at October 23, 2009 3:47 PM
I had a dog run through and leave paw prints on mine too - grrrr... Shahab came back (he was returning with the yellow caution tape anyway) and smoothed it out.
Posted by: Bklnite at October 23, 2009 5:02 PM
BTW Arkady,
VinRoy did some brownstone and brick re-pointing work on my (previous) house about 12 years ago & we were happy with the work. I saw recent recommendations here and called him for concrete work (that I eventually got Shahab to do). Left at least 3 messages with no reply. Apparently others have found him MIA or not responsive as well. Thumbs down from me if he can't be bothered to return a call.
http://www.brownstoner.com/forum/archives/2009/10/vin_roy_baronet.php
Posted by: Bklnite at October 23, 2009 5:12 PM
Bklnite - I had the same problem a week after he'd done my work. He finally got back to me - he'd had a new phone that wouldn't work properly. When that was replaced he found a gazillion messages & was trying to reach everyone.
Posted by: Arkady at October 23, 2009 5:20 PM
Question: Did those of you in landmarked districts get LPC permission? Did the mason get it? Was it a hassle?
Posted by: 146steven at October 23, 2009 8:39 PM
Page 32 - http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/downloads/pdf/pubs/Rowhouse_Manual.pdf
Posted by: SJ at October 24, 2009 12:58 PM
Two years ago I had a little time off and decided to take care of the same problem. I live on a landmarked block and followed the lead of a neighbor who went to the DOT for a permit to work on the sidewalk. He did his work at a leisurely pace with his nice little DOT permit in his window. I went and spent a whole day in the DOT office waiting among expeditors who yelled at the top of their lungs, stuffing fist fulls of permits into the little slots in the glass. 5 minutes before closing time, with certification of ownership in hand, I finally got my turn and was told that I had to go to Landmarks. Apparantly, it is hit or miss, depending on who takes care of you how you will be taken care of. I didn't have another day to go to Landmarks, nor did I want to this, since I am told they are just as arbitrary and who wants to get on their radar screen. So I abandoned the project -- for now. When I finally do do this, I will forget the permit and get a crew in on a weekend and have them do all the work then with an arborist to take care of the roots at the same time with no permit. I think it is a laugh, because I was/am planning on doing a nice job with bluestone, unlike the rest of the block which is a patchwork of cracked and buckling blue stone and cement sidewalk patches of every color.
Posted by: donatella at October 24, 2009 11:17 PM
from the brochure linked here, it seems as if no permit is needed for a sidewalk repair but -- if a city tree is involved -- the Parks Department needs to be alerted and given time to inspect the site. Is that right?
Posted by: iranyc at October 26, 2009 5:11 PM
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