Getting the city to pay for sidewalk repair?
Has anyone been in a situation like this?
We bought a house a little over year ago. The sidewalk in front is in bad shape due to a city owned tree. I applied to the city Parks Dept sidewalks program last November (a program for them to replace our sidewalk due to city tree damage). The form on the website said they had 30 days to respond. They didn’t. I put in another request in April, which they had 90 days to respond. In June, we got a sidewalk violation from the Transportation Dept. After the 90 days were up with my 2nd sidewalk request, 311 said I should file a complaint against the Parks Dept. I didn’t want to, but did. We were accepted into the sidewalks program the next day.
However, when I called the Parks Dept, they said that our damage isn’t severe enough for them to actually fix the sidewalk, and that I should fix it myself and then have the Comptroller’s Office reimburse us.
This is the short version of the story, of course. Has anyone had someth ing like this happen? Have you applied to be reimbursed? Were you successful? Unsuccessful? I’d appreciate any insight. Thanks!

kms_bkyn
in General Discussion 8 years and 11 months ago
5
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lgwlcvqt | 8 years and 11 months ago
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The comptroller office deals with claims against NYC so reimbursement is their responsibility. I would do it and file as it is SOP for them and might have fast turnaround rather than wait until it moves up the priority list for Parks.

lgwlcvqt | 8 years and 11 months ago
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The comptroller office deals with claims against NYC so reimbursement is their responsibility. I would do it and file as it is SOP for them and might have fast turnaround rather than wait until it moves up the priority list for Parks.

boredatwork | 8 years and 11 months ago
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Just wait. If you got a violation, either someone called 311, or more likely the city has a contract in your area and will get to your sidewalk sooner rather than later. I would avoid adding the comptroller to the mix at all costs.

kms_bkyn | 8 years and 11 months ago
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We were accepted into the sidewalks program, which means that the Parks Dept agrees that the tree is causing the damage and that they are responsible for it. The issue is that they don’t feel the damage is enough to put it high enough on their priority list for them to actually do the work, which is why they recommended we do the work ourselves and get reimbursed. I’m wondering if anyone has actually gotten reimbursed for such a thing.
I know I can wait for the city contractor to do it, but I don’t know that that will be any more successful in getting the city to reimburse me.

boredatwork | 8 years and 11 months ago
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Since you have a violation, just wait for the city’s contractor to do the work and let them bill you. Asking the Comptroller to reimburse you for something the City allegedly says is not their responsibility makes no sense.
I would also continue to contest the Parks Department on your claim that a city tree is not causing the damage. Dont listen to what someone said on the phone. You should get a written report from Parks with the outcome of their inspection.