Fixes not fines: Pittsburgh wants to aid, not punish, poor homeowners with crumbling sidewalks

Pittsburgh will consider expanding a program to help poor homeowners fix dilapidated sidewalks outside their houses rather than slapping them with fines for failing to make pricey repairs.

City Council in 2023 authorized a pilot program for the city to repair sidewalks at a discounted rate for low-income homeowners. Homeowners could opt into a five-year, interest-free payment plan to avoid paying the full cost up front.

A bill drafted by the administration of Mayor Ed Gainey and introduced Tuesday in council would make the initiative permanent and expand it citywide.

When the limited pilot program was launched, officials said they hoped to make sidewalks safer without penalizing people who might struggle to pay for repairs. Property owners are responsible for sidewalk upkeep.

Pittsburgh’s code states that the city can cite anything “hazardous,” according to Cydney Cooper, a spokesperson for Gainey.

Cooper told TribLive that problematic sidewalks have tripping hazards, are not passable by a stroller or wheelchair, or don’t comply with standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The city can fine people $300 if they don’t keep their sidewalks in good shape. But the city didn’t actually penalize anyone last year, Cooper said.

Instead, the city helped 21 residents in Homewood, Sheraden and Garfield replace their sidewalks through the initial pilot program.

Under the program, people who make no more than half the area median income pay only 25% of the cost of the repairs, Cooper said.

A tiered payment system offers varying discounts for people making up to 120% of the area median income.

It costs about $200 per square yard to replace sidewalks, Cooper said.

The program also allows property owners to avoid permitting costs, Department of Mobility and Infrastructure Director Kim Lucas wrote in a memo to council members.

Permits range from $295 to $485.

To encourage people to opt into the program, Lucas said, the city wants inspectors to issue citations for broken sidewalks.

“We believe this will encourage response to our outreach as the program is clearly a preferable alternative to paying the full amount at the order of a court,” she wrote.

Officials will prioritize fixing walkways based on factors like proximity to schools, parks and transit stops.

Lucas said a new initiative set to launch in the spring will train residents to help the city perform “sidewalk audits” to determine where sidewalks are in bad shape and in need of more immediate attention.