Neighbors grumble about brick street’s pending pave-over
Historic pavement in Olde Towne to be replaced by asphalt.
Toledo’s 2018 general street-resurfacing plan calls for Rosalind Place, a historic brick street located between Cherry and Fulton, to be replaced with asphalt, but the decision has generated mixed responses from neighbors and the Olde Towne Neighborhood Association.
“I love this road,” said Tresja Ellis, a two-year resident of Rosalind Place. “I grew up in the Old West End and I moved over here ... it’s historic.”
City officials said the condition of the bricks has gotten bad enough that it requires resurfacing. Failures below the pavement require a more extensive dig-out, making it difficult to repair the street. The $384,600 project is supposed to start this month and is expected to be completed by October.
“I think there are a lot of people out there who are really ready for us to do this project,” said Douglas Stephens, administrator in Toledo’s Division of Engineering Services. “They will be happy with the product we will give them that will last 40 to 60 years.”
In an email to concerned residents, Councilman Yvonne Harper said she will “push to get the street fixed” as several residents requested this of her when she was running for office in May 2015.
Attempts to reach Harper were unsuccessful.
Ellis’ boyfriend, who has lived in a duplex on Rosalind for 30 years, said he’s in favor of replacing the brick street.
“I like the bricks or whatnot, but they’re past their time now so it’s time for them to change,” Antwane Anderson said.
Anderson grew up in the neighborhood and owns the duplex where the couple lives. He said driving on the brick streets can be a little rough on his car.
Brick streets were commonly installed during the 1900s. They were considered the “norm” — and still exist in cities like Rome — for thousands of years, local historian Edward Hill said.
“It’s part of the historic atmosphere of the neighborhood,” Hill said. “We could almost be a movie set for the 1920s.”
He added that brick streets are expensive when they’re first installed, but don’t need to be redone for 50-75 years, whereas asphalt has a lifespan for about 20 years. He is a resident of Birckhead and enjoys having a brick street.
Bill Freeto, a resident of Olde Towne, said brick streets are an important part of the neighborhood as they slow down traffic and are more environmentally friendly. Water is more readily absorbed during rains, rather than going into overburdened sewers.