Residents putting up a fight against new Pike Township sidewalks
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The fate of a multi-million dollar sidewalk project in Pike Township sits in limbo.
The funds have been approved to extend the sidewalks on Georgetown Road north to 86th Street from 71st Street.
But some residents, whose homes sit right along the road, don’t want the sidewalks.
Right now sidewalks going north along Georgetown Road. stop at 71st Street, so pedestrians continuing north have to walk along the busy street.
The councilor for this district helped get sidewalks south of this point to 56th street.
Now he’s hoping they can be built from here north to 86th Street.
Steve Rasmussen has lived along Georgetown Road for 52 years and has seen it develop into a busy road.
Since it’s heavy with vehicle and foot traffic, District 1 Councillor Jose Evans has worked for years to secure about 2.4 million dollars for sidewalks.
“Many neighborhoods in Indianapolis want sidewalks,” he said. “We finally have the money, we want to build sidewalks, let’s get these sidewalks in.”
But Rasmussen doesn’t want them.
His property goes right to the road and the city is asking for some of it to build the sidewalks.
“They brought me the papers to sign stating that I would donate 25 feet of easement which would take my entire front buffer that I have from the busy highway,” Rasmussen said.
He doesn’t want to give up part of his two land parcels for the project.
And he sees new problems arising for him once the concrete is poured.
“I’m 71 years old, I’m responsible for keeping 500 feet of sidewalk clean through the winter? There’s no way possible,” he said.
He said his ten residential neighbors agree.
But the majority of this road has commercial owners who have approved the project.
“The majority of businesses want the sidewalks to help their employees,” Evans said.
Many of their employees walk from the bus stop north to work.
And Evans said that’s a safety concern because they have to walk on the road.
But Rasmussen thinks instead of sidewalks, IndyGo should just extend the bus route north a mile.
He said years ago before all the recent development, like a Goodwill store, there was a bus route to 86th Street.
“It totally eliminates the problem of the people walking,” Rasmussen said.
This project now sits at the Department of Public works.
The employees will be visiting the residents who don’t want to sign over right-of-way and negotiating with them.
The city might end up offering money for the land and if they don’t want payment, there’s a court mediation that will occur.