Sidewalk 'Pools' Raise Pedestrian Complaints

As round three of November weather rolls in some neighbors on the Beacon Hill Alliance of Neighbors email list are raising concerns about flooded sidewalks.

Specifically one neighbor described large (and deep) puddles forming in heavy rain on sidewalks on both sides of Beacon Ave South from Spokane street to the lightrail station.

Steve Louie with the City's department of neighborhoods points out property owners are general responsible for cleaning sidewalks.  The city can fine adjecent property owners who fail to keep sidewalks passable.

However, in some cases (as shown in the above picture that I took earlier this month) it can be a clogged storm drain.  The city does encourage neighbors to 'adopt-a-drain' to keep urban flooding to a minimum.

City council member Sally Clark joined the conversation saying a long term fix for flooded sidewalks might be replacing sidewalk panels with new panels that tilt slightly toward planting strips and the street.

If you have concerns about sidewalks, urban flooding or any other neighborhood related issue join the BAN email list and join the conversation.