4 Comments to 'Evidence of the new wave in Knoxville politics'
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Evidence of the new wave in Knoxville politics
Posted By katie allison granju
If you have any doubt that there has been a sea change in Knoxville city politics in recent years, take note of this excellent and extremely progressive proposal by City Councilman Bob Becker, as well as the fact that he quotes Margaret Meade (!!!) in explaining it to the press. Term limits are doing their job in city politics, for the benefit of all of us, bringing in bright and committed fresh political voices, with bold ideas and a willingness to challenge developers the status quo.
The ordinance could make walking easier and safer by requiring developers or re-developers to install sidewalks as a part of any new projects.
The muscle and the inspiration behind the proposed ordinance has been supplied by Donna Bueckman and Fountain City Connections, a group dedicated to making their part of town walkable with the addition of sidewalks.
“If you require all new developments to have sidewalks, it would go a long way to improving the walkability of this community,” Bueckman said. “What we’re doing is, we’re getting further and further behind on the whole idea of connecting neighborhoods with sidewalks.
“Sidewalks are so expensive if you put them in after the fact. The most cost effective thing is to do it from the beginning, with the idea in mind of accessibility by more than just a vehicle. We’re designing walkability out of our infrastructure.”
Bueckman has also worked with Ellen Zavisca, a planner with the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization in the planning of “Complete Street,” a project that envisions reworking the Broadway corridor to add sidewalks, bicycle lanes, safe pedestrian crossings.
Unfortunately, sidewalks are expensive – $500 per foot for new construction, and even more if they are installed after the streets are put in. Rick Emmett, who is the city’s newly-appointed sidewalk point person, says he has heard estimates that it would cost $30 million to get Knoxville’s sidewalks in order – that’s for construction of new sidewalks and maintenance and repair of old ones.
“The folks with Fountain City Connections are very passionate, good people who have done their homework and made this happen,” said Emmett.
Unfortunately, however, sources say prospects for the sidewalk ordinance passing in its present form are not good, due to the cost.
The sponsor of the sidewalk ordinance, 5th District Council member Bob Becker, remains optimistic that it will pass, albeit with some changes.
“This is a really good lesson, and I am reminded of something Margaret Meade said – ‘Never doubt that a few people can make a world of difference.’
“Part of what’s happened for the last 20-30 years is we have not thought about doing sidewalks differently. But now, the really cool part of this is that a few people from Fountain City Connections came up and said, ‘There’s a different way of doing this,’ and light bulbs started going off in people’s heads.
“What this ordinance says if you are developing, or redeveloping a house, you have to build a sidewalk. We can look at a lot of different surfaces and options – swales or semi-permeable surfaces, for example, and shift away from the idea that a sidewalk always has to be concrete with curbs and gutters, and as we get more sidewalks, we will build demand for more of them,” Becker said
Making Knoxville a truly walkable city would improve our quality of life more than just about any other single change we could make as a community. And in an age when everyone needs to be looking ahead to a less car-centric future, a network of functional, truly connected sidewalks and greenways is an investment in the city’s long term economic viability.
Apr 21st, 2008
Great idea, but what about the neighborhoods that need their sidewalks repaired.
I have lived in the same house for almost 15 years and my sidewalks are the same as they were then. Cracked uneven and in need of repair.
$500.00 per foot to build sidewalks…hmmmm.
SIdewalks are expensive, but there are a multitude of ways to justify the cost. Such pluses as health benefits to increased property values can probably be qauantified. Other, less “tangible” benefits as increased sense of community and neighborliness, while impossible to measure, are of nearly equal weight (in my book, anyway). I’m not sure where the $30 million number came from, but retrofitting all of Knoxville’s sidewalk-less neighborhoods would probably cost more than that. The goal should be to target the strategic important streets first, and then work to get sidewalks on every arterial and collector road. Some neighborhood streets may never have sidewalks, but some may not need them nearly as much. Many lower traffic residential streets may be safe enough to walk on without sidewalks, but most tie into collector streets that cannot be considered safe for pedestrians without walkways.
I’ve been a supporter of this effort all along, but my colleague Bob Becker deserves all the kudos he’s gotten (and then some) for working with Donna and taking the lead on getting this moving. Talk is cheap. Bob’s going the extra mile to make it happen.
How can I get a contract installing sidewalks for $500/foot???!?!?!
I think I figured out how I can retire early. Other municipalities list costs (including design, grading, and curbs) at $80 to $140/ft.
Go Bob!