Awesome Sidewalk Repairs
Three sections of The Lauren sidewalks on 20th Street and two on Sunderland Place had become hazardous as tree roots over the years push pavement blocks upward (left photo). Sidewalks are owned and maintained by the city. Concerned that someone would stumble and get hurt, the Lauren Board had the manager get in touch with the District's department of transportation. After several years of fruitless efforts, the Board turned to Mike Silverstein, our ANC representative and longtime Lauren resident.

Success! On March 29, 2013, Mike wryly emailed the Lauren board, "After barking up wrong trees for months, we finally found the right one. I hope."

Before Repairs
The roots of the shade trees surrounding The Lauren had pushed five area of sidewalks upward, creating hazards for pedestrians, similar to that in the photo on the left. The right photo shows the city's marking for one of two sidewalk area on Sunderland Place to be repaired. The 20th Street walk had three similar areas, and Sunderland Place had an additional area.

A section of sidewalk on Sunderland Place at 20th Street before repairs

Sidewalk from Sunderland Place exit

During Repairs
Using fast drying cement, repairs were finished in two days and open on day three. On April 11, the crew repaired three sections of sidewalk on 20th street. One of the amazing things they did was to buildup the walk at an low angle instead of cutting the roots.

All three sections on20th Street sidewalk being repaired (seen from Sunderland Place)

The section beside the Lauren front door
The Amazing Finished Product
Day one, the city repaired the 20th Street walk. Day two, they did Sunderland Place. And on the third day, this was the result! It just looks so perfectly ordinary and normal. Note the even walk in front of the trees. They look perfectly normal, but they actually have a long slope over the roots, which leave the roots healthy and untouched. Pretty amazing!

One section of sidewalk after repairs (seen from The Lauren exit on Sunderland Place)

The sidewalk section beside the Lauren front door after repairs