Work delayed as civic group seeks balance between ADA compliance and historical preservation

Things are getting cheeky in Society Hill as the civic association frets over cheek walls.

Upgrades approved in 2009 to make the neighborhood’s sidewalks ADA compliant looked a lot different on paper  than they do now that work has begun, PlanPhilly reports. Residents want to protect their historical properties in the process.

As work gets underway to install wheelchair-accessible curb cuts, some sidewalks need to be lowered, which can expose the foundation of nearby homes, requiring the installation of cheek walls. The concrete walls would protect the homes’ structures, but don’t match the neighborhood’s history.

In the full report, the Society Hill Civic Association, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and PennDOT explain how a mix-up resulted in the wrong color ramps and what all parties are doing to preserve history and accommodate all pedestrians.