Debate over brick streets continues

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Mt. Lebanon commissioners had a spirited discussion Monday night about whether to spend additional taxpayer dollars to preserve the aging brick streets that make up about 12 percent of the municipality’s paved roads.

In the end, the debate was as much about fairness as finances.

“I can’t justify the cost,” said Commissioner David Brumfield, citing repair and replacement costs for brick streets about 3½ times higher than asphalt paving. “Everybody is paying for it, but only certain people are getting it. We have to realize that we are investing more in some people’s streets than in others.”

But others said the brick pavers are charming historic assets that can’t be replaced.

“It definitely has an aesthetic and historic appeal,” engineer Dan Deiseroth said.

“Part of the charm of Mt. Lebanon is we have architecture, brick streets, vistas and gardens,” Commissioner John Bendel said. “The whole thing makes it historic.”

The issue came to the attention of commissioners last month, when residents on Morrison Drive appealed to the municipality to temporarily halt the replacement of their street from brick to asphalt. Homeowners were notified 24 hours before work was to begin.

But the issue is one commissioners have been struggling with for the past several years.

“This is not a new topic,” assistant manager Ian McMeans said. “We’ve discussed brick at numerous commission meetings.”

Along with a higher material cost for glazed street bricks, the brick streets are more expensive due to a layer of concrete that is needed beneath the brick.

“You’re building two streets when you build a brick street,” Mr. Deiseroth said.

Bid prices for brick streets among contractors have been about 3½ times higher than traditional asphalt, but Mr. Bendel questioned whether a separate bidding process aimed at brick specialists could narrow down the cost.

“It’s a type of construction that isn’t common,” Mr. McMeans said. “It’s labor intensive.”

When the entire life cycle of brick paving is taken into consideration, the cost still is higher, but by about 30 percent.

Many of the brick streets in the area were built in the 1920s and 1930s.

A majority of commissioners remained reluctant to pony up extra money for the brick streets unless the cost could be offset by a surcharge for residents or with funding through a historic foundation.

“Do we want to find a way to bridge this gap?” Mr. Bendel asked. “Is it important enough to figure it out? For me, it is.”

Commissioners asked staff to develop a policy and explore other possible funding sources, along with more detailed costs and safety data.

Commissioners said they did not favor an option to replace the studio rink while repairing a broken defroster in the main rink.

Engineer Dan Deiseroth warned that repairs might not be possible.

“I would want to fix it the best way the first time,” he said, noting that it would be a “risky undertaking” to repair rinks that are already beyond their normal lifespan.

An alternative favored by all of the commissioners would be total replacement of both rinks, which is estimated to cost between $1.7 million and $2.4 million.

The facility is used by the Mt. Lebanon School District hockey teams and the Mt. Lebanon Hockey Association.

“This is an asset that’s producing income,” said Commissioner