Morningside Sidewalk Repair
One of the most wonderful things about Morningside is its “walkability”. We can run errands, dine out, visit friends, take the kids to school, walk the dog or simply take a relaxing stroll--all without ever needing to get in a car.
Sidewalk maintenance is one of the most critical elements in keeping our neighborhood walkable and beautiful. Damaged sidewalks are a serious safety hazard, causing injuries and forcing pedestrians to walk in the street where they could be struck by cars. Poorly maintained sidewalks are also eyesores that lower neighborhood property values. You can do your part to combat these problems by taking note of any damaged sidewalks in Morningside, printing out this letter and leaving a copy in the homeowner’s mailbox.
Many people are not aware that sidewalk maintenance is the responsibility of the adjoining property owner, not the City of Atlanta. Section 138-14(d) of the Code of Ordinances states “When the sidewalk abutting the right-of-way is damaged, it is the obligation of the abutting property owner to repair such sidewalk”. Accordingly, pedestrians injured as a result of a damaged sidewalk may sue the adjoining property owner. Failure to maintain a sidewalk properly can result in a citation from the City. It is also the property owner’s obligation to keep sidewalks clear of obstructions such as overgrown foliage. As a cautionary tale, it should be noted that a Virginia-Highlands homeowner recently had to pay over $15,000 in medical bills when his neighbor’s mother injured herself badly after tripping over his broken sidewalk (and this did not include any legal fees).
Once the reimbursement application has been received, an MLPA representative will inspect the sidewalk before and after the work is done to approve the request and will issue the reimbursement check after receiving approval at the monthly MLPA meeting. Please note that the annual MLPA budget includes a limited amount of sidewalk repair matching funds each year and so reimbursement requests are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please contact Kevin Lyman by email (404) 879-1767 with any questions or comments about the Sidewalk Repair Reimbursement Program.