Do Crumbling Pavers Compromise 'Wow Factor' of Berkley Gateway?

The clay pavers at the 12 Mile Road and Coolidge Highway intersection took center stage Monday night during a special work session between the Berkley City Council, Downtown Development Authority and Planning Commission.

A majority of members representing the three organizations advised City Manager Jane Bais-DiSessa that they'd prefer to see the pavers – which are crumbling and popping out of place in some spots – to be repaired in the short term using bricks and funds the city already has set aside for the corner and replaced in the future with partially stamped concrete.

The pavers were laid over a 10-inch concrete base as part of a $1.4-million makeover of the corner, according to City Council member Dan Benton. The project – which also included mast arms, signage, walls, sidewalks, landscaping and lighting – was designed to make Berkley's main gateway more attractive to businesses and consumers.

But, over time, the pavers have become what some consider an eyesore as well as a safety hazard for bicyclists and those riding motorcycles over the surface, which is uneven in some places.

City Engineer Tom Biehl explained that clay pavers like those in the intersection have a history of problems: They swell when they get wet and can settle into their binding agent, loosen and pop out. He also noted there were allegations that some of the bricks used in the original work didn't meet spec and were laid in weather too cold for them to set properly.

He advised that concrete is a more durable option than clay pavers. He said replacing the pavers with plain concrete would cost an estimated $275,000 and using partially stamped concrete would cost approximately $60,000 more.

Bais-DiSessa said the replacement work could be funded using the DDA or major road funds, money from the general fund balance or via a road bond. However, the groups downplayed the latter option as a realistic possibility.

The city manager noted that she merely received guidance Monday night and that no official vote was taken or final decision made.

'The residents are absolutely fed up'

While Benton conceded that the work, done a decade ago, improved the intersection's appearance, he remained skeptical about the decorative paving's value.

"I don't know why a road has to be a picture canvas," Benton said. "It's a road."

Rather than replacing the bricks with partially stamped concrete, Benton said he'd prefer the less-expensive option of plain concrete, along with using asphalt to make repairs in the meanwhile.

He suggested that the money saved could be used to make upgrades in the Coolidge Highway business district.

Councilman Dan Terbrack shared Benton's sentiment.

"(The brick work) was a very nice idea but, unfortunately, it didn't turn out the way we or the folks who planned it expected," he said. "The residents are absolutely fed up with the intersection and it's becoming embarrassing."

Terbrack said he thinks residents would be more receptive to Planning Commissioner Eric Murrell's idea to save money by using plain concrete and putting the savings toward upgrades from eye level up at the intersection.

"What's going to make the residents confident in their government and boards and commissions?" Terbrack asked. "It's time to cut our losses."

'Wow factor is important'

But others in attendance didn't see it that way.

"The whole point is to make that intersection a wow for Berkley," Planning Commissioner Dottie Popp said. "Stamped concrete will sparkle. It will have texture. It will be a wow."

DDA Treasurer Aleta Young agreed and explained why such beautification work is worthwhile.

"Wow factor is important to attracting small businesses and consumers," and helps entrepreneurs to secure lending, said Young, citing her more than 15 years of experience in retail banking.

The work also inspired nearby businesses to make upgrades – particularly,  – and generated interest from new businesses as well, said Bais-DiSessa, who also is a DDA member.

"(The intersection makeover) really did generate some positive PR," she said.