The Sidewalk Tax: Who Pays for Seattle’s New Pavement?
City Engineer Thompson reveals the staggering costs of replacing wooden walkways with brick and cement, sparking debate over who will foot the bill for urban improvement.
The story, cleaned up
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COST OF NEW SIDEWALKS
The proposed new sidewalk ordinance, which will be submitted to the city council next Monday, is a matter of considerable interest. The changes to be made will effect all the principal business streets in the city, and the incidental cost to the citizens is a matter of importance.
In conversation with a Star reporter today, City Engineer Thompson said: "There is no way of telling now what such improvements in the sidewalks would cost, and I would not care to be misled by a guess. The wooden sidewalks we now have cost from 50 cents to $1.00 per running foot. Vitrified brick pavement would probably cost $1.25 to the square yard, while cement might run up to $1.80 to the square yard." Natural stone is not produced in this country suitable for sidewalks, so it is not likely to be used.
The debate over these costs highlights the tension between civic progress and the financial burden placed on property owners and taxpayers alike.
A century ago, Seattle residents were already grappling with the high cost of infrastructure upgrades and the politics of who pays for them. The debate over sidewalk materials—wood vs. brick vs. cement—mirrors modern discussions about public works funding, gentrification, and the rising cost of living in a rapidly growing city.
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