Printed using recycled fiber
Middleburg’s Community Newspaper Volume 12 Issue 12
B E L O CA L BUY LOCAL
Asian inspired grilled salmon
Page 38
Y OP LOCALL ITY AND SH R COMMUN OU T OR PP SU
www.mbecc.com
Middleburg Spring Races
April 28, 2016 ~ May 26, 2016
Page 24
Photo by Chris Weber
Where the Sidewalk Ends Middleburg Town Council Report
A
Dan Morrow
s construction crews continue to make slow progress restructuring the roads and sidewalks in Middleburg’s central business district, Town Council discussed at some length just how far the Town’s sidewalk should extend to the east, on the south side of Washington Street, Route 50. The existing sidewalk, sited high above the main roadway, runs past two historic properties at the east end of town, the Allen and Blunt houses. One, the Allen House, was sold to the national non-profit Masters of Foxhounds Association on Friday on April 15 and is slated to become both that organizations headquarters and a museum. The sidewalk was built, according to Councilmember Trowbridge Littleton, by his great grandfather who, at one time owned both houses. Built of several different and ancient materials, all agreed the walk is in serious need of repair or replacement. The question is how and by whom and how far down the street the walk should go. Cody Francis, Middleburg’s Town Engineer, pointed out two options at Council’s last work session: 1. Build a “standard VDOT sidewalk along the curb” at road level, or 2. Replace the existing high walk “with another brick sidewalk.” Early cost estimates for the “repair” or “extended rebuild” ranged from $30,000 to $100,000. Currently the walk serves only two houses. After some discussion the idea of extending it to the Pinkney Street intersection was rejected. One Council Member described that option as “Building a sidewalk to nowhere.” After lengthy discussion, Town Council, according to Mayor Davis, seemed clearly of a mind to retain something as close to the old historic sidewalk as possible, while making it safer for pedestrians, agreeing with Council Members Snyder and Littleton that, to change it radically would alter the very character of an area that was a signature main entrance to the town. Town Administrator Martha Semmes noted that keeping the old walk in an improved form would depend on: 1 whether or not “VDOT would allow the town to do something with the old sidewalk” (VDOT owns the right-of-ways) and 2, whether Council would be willing to “use Town funds to do something if there were someone [presumably the new owners/developers of the Allen House] who were willing to help with maintenance. After further discussion, Town Staff was instructed to work with VDOT to see what could be done legally, “with a preference to keep the sidewalk as it is.”
Request in homes by Thursday 4/28/16
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Without dissent Council voted to approve a grant of $2,000 to the Middleburg Arts Continued page 16
POSTAL CUSTOMER
Middleburg Museum Foundation Sells Allen House to Masters of Foxhounds for National Headquarters Page 3
Artisan Trail Funding