Sarah Smith sidewalk still waiting

A long-awaited sidewalk leading to Sarah Smith Elementary's intermediate campus remains unfinished with a new school year about to begin.

The sidewalk along the eastern side of Wieuca Road has been in the works since the intermediate campus at 4141 Wieuca opened in January 2010. The last scheduled completion date was last spring. The sidewalk from Mountain Way would connect with a sidewalk that has been in place in front of the school since it was constructed.

Madelyn Grant, program manager of the Department of Public Works' capital projects/quality of life bond issue, said one parcel of land on Wieuca Road must be obtained before the sidewalk work can begin. She said she hopes the property can be secured before the end of August.

"There is an issue of tree removal that we are trying to resolve with the property owner," Grant said in an e-mail to District 7 Councilman Howard Shook's office. Shook's aide Denis Taylor inquired about the sidewalk in response to a question from Buckhead Patch.

Grant said a Public Works representative and the city arborist were to visit the location this week "to attempt to resolve."

"We estimate that the remaining parcel can be secured no later than the end of the month," she said.

A total of 14 parcels of land needed to be obtained for the sidewalk construction, she said. Of the 13 parcels acquired so far, there were "four that required condemnation," she said.

Meanwhile, as a result of Buckhead's recent storms, a fallen tree with a sharp limb jutting from it hung above the existing sidewalk on the other side of Wieuca from the school. Cut up logs lay along the edge of the sidewalk. The tree and logs were removed before Friday morning's back to school celebration at the school, as was a pile of brush on the sidewalk in front of the school.