Residents Protest City Refusal to Restore Green Areas

About 50 homeowners are protesting the city’s refusal to replace grass that was removed from the parkways outside their homes during a three-month sidewalk and curb repair project, which some are calling a “nightmare.”

Lee Nash, who has lived in her Culpepper Circle home for the last 30 years, said it will cost more than $1,000 to repair damage to her lawn and replant the parkway that fronts her home.

“When we asked the city to replace the sod, they said they don’t have to because it’s city property,” Nash said. “They told us we can have it in weeds if we want.”

Nash has circulated a petition signed by 50 homeowners asking that the city restore their lawns and parkways. About two years ago, the homeowners paid to put new grass in the parkways. After construction crews removed the sod and placed it in the street, homeowners kept it alive, believing it would be replanted.

“Every homeowner was out here watering it every day for about three months,” said 25-year resident Judy Siegele.”The city just threw it all away.”

Siegele said the yards of numerous homes were damaged by careless construction crews who broke sprinkler heads, dumped truckloads of dirt on their property and even turned off their water without warning.

She estimates the city project will cost her more than $2,000 in repairs.

Don Noble, city maintenance operations manager, said it would be difficult for the city to reimburse some homeowners, when others already have replanted the parkways. Parkway landscaping is typically left to the discretion of homeowners, Noble said, adding that the city has offered to pay for damages to the first five feet of their yards.

“This won’t begin to pay for all the suffering we’ve been through,” said Nash, who is encouraging residents to take legal action in small claims court. “We’re all very upset about this.”

Mayor Dave Sullivan said homeowners were notified that the parkways would not be replanted. But he said the city will review their complaints.

“The Public Works Department will try and work with the residents to come to some resolution,” Sullivan said. “The matter is not closed at this time.”