I really wanted to call this post "Fucking Sidewalk Replacement". And then in my head I was all, "but what if that's what goes up at Feed Tacoma and people are all offended and shit?" And then I remembered that I made a promise to myself that even though my Mom reads this blog from time to time (hi Mom!), that I wouldn't censor myself for anyone. That this is my own space to write whatever the hell I want...but then again...Feed Tacoma isn't my own space. Conundrum! Especially after all the publicity from yesterday.

I'll have to talk to Kevin about that. What's Feed Tacoma's official policy on swearing like a sailor?

Anyway...

This is my sidewalk:

I know it's my sidewalk, not only because it's directly in front of my house, but because I just paid the city of Tacoma over $1000 to replace it. They sent me a letter telling me that I had to replace it, because of the terrible condition of my unholy sidewalk:

(Click to read)

Am I the only one missing the terrible condition of my sidewalk? Especially, say, in the front six squares in the picture? Are there some booby traps or sidewalk demons I'm missing? No wayward tree roots have made their way skyward, and all of the cement is pretty much in one piece. I've read the description of "dangerous" sidewalks in Tacoma and I don't think mine falls into that category, but whatever.

So for the sake of peace, I've given in and paid for the stupid sidewalk replacement. Am I the only one pissed off by the fact that the original assessment of the sidewalk was done the year prior to my owning the house but I'm still paying for it? And why is the city forcing me to have ugly-ass sidewalks instead of keeping some semblance of historical accuracy since I live in the North Slope Historic District and I want to keep my neighborhood the way it is?

See my old-timey stamp?

See the hideous, glowing, ghost-like, new cement?

Am I the only one who thinks this patchwork of new and old cement will look like crap on a cracker? Get ready to welcome this look all over neighborhoods near you!

Posted by: Ensie at 04:43 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
Post contains 381 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Well, amusingly enough though the title didn't have swearing most of your first paragraph showed up on feed>>tacoma as well

Posted by: izenmania at November 30, 2007 05:03 PM (/fI+2)

2 Oh well. I tried. Can't win them all.

Posted by: ensie at November 30, 2007 05:08 PM (6We+3)

3 On a more thought-out note... right now I'd just settle for sidewalks being open. what with Prium developments on all sides, 505 Broadway and whatever is going in across the street from there, construction has taken over 6th and 7th, forcing me to criss cross (or just walk in the middle of the road, which is more my style anyway). There are certainly sidewalks out there that could use replacing. Those with protruding panels encouraging the tripping of unobservant pedestrians and such. But yours looks to have been one of the nice ones. I don't know. As a non-property-owner I can't really say how I'd feel about it.

Posted by: izenmania at November 30, 2007 05:14 PM (/fI+2)

4 It's really good to get the perspective of someone who does a lot of walking around Tacoma like you do, izenmania. That sucks that so many of your routes are closed due to constructions. I know there is so much going on around Wright Park at the moment it's a bitch to drive around there, I can imagine it's twice as bad to walk. In taking the dogs for walks around our neighborhood there are definitely sidewalks that need replacing. I've fallen down over several. However, I just can't believe that my particular sidewalk is one of them with it's 99% flat surface and 1 or 2 small cracks (vs. massive eruptions of tree roots and feeling like you're climbing a small Everest in some areas). Nor do I believe that laying down bright white unmatched concrete is the best option for a neighborhood that prides itself on being a historic landmark.

Posted by: ensie at November 30, 2007 09:11 PM (6We+3)

5 The "conundrum" caused me to laugh aloud. I have censored myself on occasion as well for very similar reasons. That sidewalk does indeed resemble a crap cracker.

Posted by: sparkrobot at November 30, 2007 09:20 PM (lsev4)

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