14 | Community
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Shepherd Center calls for fixes to nearby sidewalks Continued from page 1
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“I have not had much success,” Curtis said. center’s co-founder and board chairman. Cruz-Benton said the city is working to “This is a decades-old problem that needs improve ATL311 by consolidating work orto be addressed.” der systems for the Departments of Public On a recent visit, Reporter NewspaWorks and Watershed Management “for a pers saw a sign blocking a sidewalk on streamlined approach.” Lindbergh Drive near Peachtree Road -“The ATL311 customer service team a problem a wheelchair-using Shepherd does not close out service requests beCenter also complained about -- and the fore they are resolved,” Cruz-Benton nearest crosswalk covered by two metal said. “Providing exemplary customer plates with a hole between them. service to City of Atlanta residents and Christina Cruz-Benton, a city spokesvisitors is very important. That is why person, later said the Department of PubMayor [Kasim] Reed launched the 311 lic Works removed the sign. Cruz-Benton Customer Service System in 2014.” also said that Peachtree Road sidewalk Jarvis Brown, who operates an elecrepairs must be done by the Georgia Detric wheelchair and goes to the Shepherd partment of Transportation, because the Center’s pharmacy often, said he has also road is a state route. had trouble getting to the hospital from A GDOT spokesperson, Natalie Dale, the Lindbergh area. Brown said trying to said the state agency only performs navigate Peachtree Road to get to the hossidewalk work as a part of larger road pital is “difficult and dangerous” because projects. “We look to the city to mainof the cracks, potholes and other damage. tain sidewalks within their jurisdicConstruction in Buckhead also doesn’t tion,” Dale said in an email. help, he said, because often sidewalks In addition, area City Councilmemcan be blocked. Sometimes construction ber Howard Shook plans to document workers assist him, if they are on the job. sidewalk conditions as part of a planned “If there are no workers around, you’re walk-through of his district. pretty much on your A Shepherd Cenown,” Brown said. ter spokesperson Shepherd said he said they have tried has been advocating for many years to for improved sideget sidewalks fixed walk safety and reand were told by the pairs since the hoscity some sidewalks pital opened at 2020 along Peachtree Road Peachtree Road in in front of businessBuckhead in 1982. es are the responsi“There are many bility of the property wheelchair-users and owners to maintain, medical patients on so the hospital last canes or with limited fall repaired the sidemobility,” said Shepwalks in front of its herd, who was parproperty. alyzed in the 1970s. “Now, the sidewalks “Pedestrian safety is along Shepherd Cenparamount everyter’s property — from where but particularly the Piedmont Hospiin this hallmark cortal property line to the ridor … Our curb cuts bus stop just north of spill into the street at the hospital’s main enThe city recently removed this street sometimes steep antrance —are in good sign that was blocking a sidewalk on gles and many times Lindbergh Drive, forcing wheelchair shape,” said Jane Sandinto a gutter secusers and pedestrians into the road. ers, the center’s direction that throws your tor of public relations, wheelchair off balin an email. “However, ance in a totally opposite direction.” that is not the case for other portions of the Shepherd also mentioned the facilsidewalk along Peachtree Road north of ity the hospital operates for soldiers Shepherd Center.” with mild to moderate brain injuries on Several sidewalks on Peachtree Road Peachtree Park Drive down the street are crushed and cracked, especially near from the main hospital. the Shepherd Center, James Curtis, a pa“They struggle with balance issues and tient and volunteer said. simply crossing the street can be a chal“It is a short commute, but it is rough lenge,” Shepherd said of those patients. on my wheelchair,” Curtis said. He has Another patient at the Shepherd Cencontacted ATL311, the city’s hotline for ter who lives in Peachtree Hills about a city services, but hasn’t noticed any sidemile from the hospital expressed similar walk improvements, he said. accessibility issues. Before the sign was
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