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DOWNTOWN MEDFORD Downtown Medford pavers cause headaches for property owners Pavers installed 12 years ago are causing headaches for city, property owners Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Feb. 19, 2016 at 3:52 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Feb. 19, 2016 at 3:52 PM » Social News Widespread buckling, heaving and sinking of sidewalks along Central Avenue have infuriated nearby businesses and prompted the Medford City Council to call for an analysis of the problem. “Do we have a system failure with these pavers?” Councilor Dick Gordon asked. “If it is a system failure, then MURA (Medford Urban Renewal Agency) or the city needs to step up.” The problem sidewalks, which run from about Fifth to Ninth streets, were installed 12 years ago by MURA with a budget of $900,000, which included street lights and trees. Some businesses, including Rogue Community College, think the sidewalks' paver design might be causing flooding in basements or cracks in foundations. The council learned that uneven sidewalks next to city-owned parking lots on Central Avenue may have the same type of pavers. Uneven sidewalks that have more than a ½-inch displacement also might not meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Businesses next to the sidewalks have been told by the city that it is their responsibility to repair the sidewalks. The council on Thursday denied three appeals from property owners who didn’t want to pay for the sidewalk repairs. The city extended the time the property owners have to make the repairs from 90 days to nine months. However, the property owners have to sign agreements indemnifying the city against any liabilities from the defective sidewalks. While the sidewalks were paid for by MURA, the use of pavers and types of trees were approved by the city. Grant Lagorio, RCC’s director of facilities and operations, said the college may have cracked concrete on its main building at the corner of Central Avenue and Eighth Street that could have been caused by the poor sidewalk installation. Caution tape has been placed around tree wells outside the RCC building to alert pedestrians to the uneven surface. Lagorio said there doesn’t seem to be any indication that root barriers were installed in the tree wells. “We’ve been having problems with the trees for years,” he said. As the trees get bigger, the problem will get worse, he said. Lagorio showed photos of trees that have been pruned so the branches don’t rub against the building. As a result, the trees are growing toward the street side, potentially becoming top heavy enough to fall into travel lanes, Lagorio said. MURA installed 2-by-2-foot pavers in the areas that are failing. Other sidewalks have solid concrete that is scored in 2-foot squares to get the same effect. Business owners showed photos of sidewalks in the downtown with solid concrete that appeared to be holding up better than the pavers. When the pavers were installed, businesses such as Central Art Supply complained they might cause more flooding in their basements. Councilor Daniel Bunn said that if the city determines there was a problem with the paver installation, the city might reimburse property owners for the repairs. “We’re seeing failures throughout the installation,” Bunn said. Ben Tresser, a property owner representing businesses from 135 to 149 Central Ave., said he didn’t think the trees were the main culprit causing uneven sidewalks in front of his properties. “In our case, it’s failing all over,” he said. Tresser said the type of problems he is seeing couldn’t have been anticipated or addressed by property owners. “There’s nothing we could have done,” he said. Tresser said repairs would cost tens of thousands of dollars and may not solve the problem. Any work to level the sidewalks could result in killing the trees, he said. “Repairing the pavers is ludicrous,” he said. Tresser suggested the city and the business owners develop a comprehensive plan to address the problem with pavers. Public Works Director Cory Crebbin said the paver installation had only a one-year warranty. Mike Zimer, owner of the building at 125 Central Ave., just south of RCC, said repairing the sidewalks brings up other technical issues. Underneath the sidewalks are electrical and irrigation lines that also have been pushed up. He said he’s lifted up some pavers and has seen roots growing underneath. Zimer also had another worry. “Any of the broken pavers — where do you get a new one?” he asked. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter @reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Feb. 19, 2016 at 3:52 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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