Alley Project FAQs
What was the process of deciding which alleys to resurface?
Please remember that this effort is powered by volunteers. The Alley Committee met with multiple members of the Department of Public Works over many weeks. The neighborhood alleys were inspected by and walked by DPW and members of the community. DPW identified three alleys to estimate for resurfacing. The Lockerbie Square Land Use Committee chose the first alley (Allegheny) to resurface from those three.
Where is Allegheny?
Allegheny runs east to west, from N College Ave to N Park Ave. It is between (runs parallel to) E Michigan St and E Vermont St
Where are the other two alleys that were identified by DPW for resurfacing?
Elmer Spurr/625 E runs north and south between E Michigan St and E Vermont St, it is directly east of N Park
Cincinnati/675E runs north and south from Vermont Place to New York St, it is directly west of N College Ave
Why wasn’t my alley chosen?
Ideally, all asphalt alleys would be resurfaced, but it is cost prohibitive. DPW identified three alleys as the most in need of resurfacing. We need to raise money to resurface the alleys one at a time.
My alley is brick with concrete patching. Was it considered?
Any alley that contains brick is considered historic and would require restoration, which is much more expensive. The Alley Committee could only address alleys that are asphalt. The Lockerbie Square Land Use Committee is currently working on getting the city to remove the concrete from the bricked alleys and replace it with bricks. This will be challenging as there are not records of who did the patching, but people are working on it.
Why isn’t the city paying to resurface the alleys?
The city does not consider the alleys to be streets and therefore will not resurface, nor share in the costs. The only thing they offer is to patch them, which was accomplished by the Alley Committee in fall of 2023. A portion of the gasoline tax is used for maintaining streets and sidewalks, but it is not allowed to be used for alleys.
What is the proposed surface?
The estimates are for asphalt resurfacing with a 2 foot brick border on each side.