Property owners in northwest Lawrence must soon begin repairing sidewalks

Some property owners in northwest Lawrence will soon be getting notices from the city asking them to repair their sidewalks.

City staff estimates that millions of dollars in sidewalk repairs are needed throughout Lawrence, and the city was broken into eight zones to begin enforcing the city’s long-standing ordinance. The ordinance requires property owners to repair hazardous sidewalks adjacent to their properties, and certain homeowners could be eligible to have the city pay for all or part of their repair costs.

Municipal Services and Operations Program Specialist Mark Thiel said repair notices for the first zone will be sent out March 11. Property owners have 60 days to have repairs made themselves, or they can choose to have a city-hired contractor make the repairs and receive the same pricing as the city, according to the city’s sidewalk repair enforcement policy.