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Welcome to Barcroft Neighborhood
Barcroft Neighborhood Conservation PlanCapital ImprovementsCurbs, Gutters and SidewalksMost of Barcroft's streets have curbs, gutters and sidewalks, with some having no sidewalks and some having no curbs and gutters. Curbs and gutters are lacking in four locations. Sidewalks are lacking on at least part of 15 blocks, and nine blocks have no sidewalk on either side of the street. We do not know which blocks have sufficient County right-of-way for sidewalk construction.In some locations the lack of sidewalks poses a safety problem for pedestrians. The most difficult problem is on South Pershing Drive between 4th and 6th Streets South. This stretch includes the curve where South Pershing Drive becomes South Buchanan Street. This curve is extremely hazardous for pedestrians, and sidewalks are needed here to prevent injuries, particularly along the County property and the former Virginia Power substation. Another point where linking sidewalks are needed is the west side of South Pershing Drive between 1st Place South and South Woodrow Street. The narrowness of South Pershing Drive at this point is also a safety problem for cars, and pedestrians are forced to cross South Pershing Drive to avoid the stretch of missing sidewalk. The neighborhood has identified safety problems for school children walking to and from Barcroft Elementary School, particularly along 7th and 8th Streets South between South Wakefield and South Buchanan Streets. School enrollment records show that 65 children live in the 800 and 900 blocks of South Buchanan Street, and would normally use 7th and 8th Streets South to walk to school. Since 7th and 8th Streets South are narrow with no sidewalks, school children are forced tO walk in the one center lane left between parked cars. If sidewalks cannot be constructed here in a reasonable time it will be necessary to consider limiting parking to one side of the street. In addition, the safety of school children can be improved by better marking the crossing at 8th Street South and South Buchanan Street. Barcroft residents are divided on the subject of completing the sidewalk network. Most strongly support sidewalks everywhere for pedestrian safety. Others oppose losing a portion of what they perceive to be their front lawns, sometimes including desirable trees and shrubbery, or paying the assessment for sidewalks. The Barcroft community as a whole clearly favors completing the sidewalk system where there is no conflict with property owners, particularly on the County property along South Pershing Drive. In other situations the neighborhood is unable to impose a general solution for the conflict between pedestrian safety and the reluctant property owner. Under the County's NC process, the decision must be made street-by-street, with the property owners petitioning the County for sidewalks if they desire them. The neighborhood as a whole looks to its property owners to act responsibly based on the common good achieved when sidewalks are available for pedestrians, particularly where pedestrian traffic is highest from schools, Metro and shopping along Columbia Pike. This position does not impose curbs, gutters and sidewalks on those who do not want them, but supports those who wish to petition the County for their installation under regular County procedures. Property owners wanting sidewalks will be pleased to find that when this NC Plan has been approved, the County will assume half of the cost of assessments for installation of new curbs, gutters and sidewalks under the Neighborhood Conservation Program. Where there is a strong public need for sidewalks, the County should consider funding them without an assessment to the property owner. There is unanimity on the need for maintenance for the sidewalks now installed. Well maintained sidewalks reduce pedestrian injuries. Map #6 identifies 18 locations where residents asked on their questionnaires for sidewalk repairs, indicating a widespread maintenance problem. Barcroft is scheduled for sidewalk maintenance in 1991, which will provide temporary relief for this problem. Under the current County schedule, this will be the last regular sidewalk maintenance performed in the neighborhood in this century. Any additional regular maintenance only can be performed with part or all of the cost being paid by the adjacent property owner. There is support for additional curb cuts to make more of Barcroft accessible to wheelchairs. There are few such ramps now in the neighborhood, and they are keenly missed by Barcroft's active wheelchair users. The County has a program tO construct ramps where requested.
Recommendation #19
Curbs, Gutters and Sidewalks
B. The County should immediately construct the missing sidewalks on County property along the west side of South Pershing Drive between 4th and 6th Streets South. C. The County should consider ways to improve the safety of school children walking to and from Barcroft School along 7th and 8th Streets South between South Wakefield and South Buchanan Streets. The County should consider constructing sidewalks on at least one side of both blocks to fill in the missing links needed for safety. It also should consider filling in the gap in sidewalks on South Pershing Drive, between 1st Place South and South Woodrow Street, as a missing link project. In both locations the County should consider waiving its normal assessment in light of the benefit for public safety. [Footnote 11] D. The County should review the 18 points where sidewalk maintenance needs were identified on the neighborhood questionnaire and are shown on Map #6 for possible emergency repairs. These problems should be corrected in 1991 within the normal maintenance cycle if they cannot be repaired immediately. E. The County should review its policy on sidewalk maintenance once again to determine if there might be some way to provide more frequent nonemergency maintenance at County expense. The County should install ramps for wheelchair users, similar to the one installed at the corner near the Barcroft Community House. The Barcroft School and Civic League will assemble a list of corners frequently used by the neighborhood's current wheelchair users and request the County to construct ramps there. [Footnote 11: The County Board did not support the waiving of the assessment when this NC Plan was adopted.] DrainageSome drainage problems are identified on Map #7, and are spread mostly through back yards. In one case a County drainage ditch may have been improperly filled in. In a few cases drainage problems occur in streets or on sidewalks, which can be hazardous in winter during freezing conditions. Water accumulates and freezes in the roadway at the intersection of South Taylor Street and 6th Street South, and along 8th Street South between South Wakefield and South Buchanan streets.
Recommendation #20
Street lighting in Barcroft is generally good, but residents still consider it inadequate in some places. Map 8 shows locations where Barcroft residents stated on their neighborhood questionnaire that more street lights are needed. After review of the recommendations, the neighborhood supports additional lights in those locations. The neighborhood supports increased lighting on main internal arteries, including South Pershing Drive, 4th Street South and South Wakefield Street. The residents of some streets may want to petition the County for the new carriage lights, which now provide good lighting along 6th Street South and one block of South Wakefield Street. Such petitions may involve charges to the property owner, and the choice should be up to the individuals involved. In some cases residents who are bothered by higher lighting levels may request that their homes be shielded from the direct glare of new lights tO be installed.
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