When the town of Santa Barbara started work on uneven and uplifted sidewalks on Milpas Road two weeks in the past, Eastside store house owners and neighborhood residents had been shocked that as an alternative of latest, clear sidewalks, the employees had been leaving rapidly poured asphalt filler into the cracked and slender walkways.
Natalia Govoni, who owns the Brazilian lingerie store Sheer Delights on the 400 block of Milpas, was appalled by the “shoddy work” performed in entrance of her store, which sits proper subsequent to Milpas mainstay Pat’s Liquor.
She stated it was “one other slap within the face” from the town, and questioned whether or not the identical fast fixes could be utilized in different, extra prosperous areas like Montecito, the Mesa, or San Roque.
“The worst half is that we should endure this till 2027 when a extra intense building undertaking will start for our sidewalks,” she stated. “Sadly, this present look doesn’t assist our hall, which is already aesthetically struggling.”
A number of images taken alongside the 400 block of Milpas present tough asphalt contrasted with the cracked sidewalk and brick storefronts, and one video taken by Eastside activist Jess Espinoza exhibits uncovered roots and filth in a single spot being prepped for filler.
“There’s nonetheless roots protruding, and that is what they’re going to throw asphalt over,” Espinoza says within the video despatched to the Impartial.
In one other picture taken farther down Milpas Road, a metropolis bike pole that was torn out of the sidewalk to make room for the asphalt lays out within the open towards an overgrown tree trunk.
The town’s Public Works Director Cliff Maurer stated he’s conscious of the outcry from individuals within the neighborhood, however stated the fixes are solely short-term and that the asphalt was chosen due to the “difficult” nature of the Ficus timber alongside Milpas Road.
“This has turn out to be a hot-button difficulty within the final two weeks, and I perceive the frustration of residents and enterprise house owners,” Maurer stated. “However this isn’t a brand new drawback.”
The Ficus roots, he defined, are “very aggressive,” and never ideally suited for city areas. They tear into sidewalks and creep into the foundations of neighboring buildings looking for water. The heaved sidewalks are a selected problem as a result of a everlasting restore might be exceptionally pricey.
One possibility is root abatement, which is an uphill battle with fast-growing roots which are more likely to return inside 4 to 6 months. “Not solely do they arrive again,” Maurer stated, “they’re extra aggressive.”
Taking out the timber is an possibility, however environmental activists haven’t been open to the concept of taking out timber in an already city space. That leaves the short-term asphalt answer, an inexpensive and straightforward manner to offer a walkway that’s “extra pliable and resilient” to the foundation development.
So whereas Maurer admits the asphalt shouldn’t be the perfect look, he’s hoping the Eastside residents perceive that the town is working towards a whole renovation and widening of the Milpas space, an $8 million undertaking that’s presently within the design course of and anticipated to begin in 2027.
The short-term sidewalk repairs alongside Milpas Road are anticipated to proceed into early September.
