Erring on the Side of Safety

The dance between pedestrians and drivers along the streets of Virginia-Highland is a delicate one. Slower speed limits and abundant crosswalks -- arguably more respected in this part of town – help keep it safe.

But given the sheer number of residents and visitors who travel the busy stretches of North Highland Avenue, accidents happen. The most recent was on the night of March 17, when a while crossing North Highland Avenue.

That accident was cited two weeks ago on a neighborhood listserv where residents expressed concerns about crosswalks in general, and the one at Briarcliff Terrace in particular.

A right-turn lane for Doug Landau’s planned multi-use development known as The Mix had been added, making the crosswalk hard to navigate.

“That intersection is now very unsafe due to the widening and turn lane added, because the cross walk is now in the middle of the road,” wrote Jared Marber, who lives a block away. “Since Briarcliff Place is now wider (where it meets Highland), the old cross walk markings are now located in the middle of Briarcliff Place. I was also almost hit by a car as I crossed in the cross walk.”

Two weeks ago, city inspectors came out to see for themselves, then closed off the right-turn lane with white traffic signs and yellow tape.

Valerie Bell-Smith, senior public relations manager for the city’s Department of Public Works (DPW), said her department had approved the plan for the turn lane – but the developer had not gotten a permit for the construction phase of the project.

“The plan was approved conditioned on obtaining a permit,” she explained by email.  “Upon learning of the construction occurring without a permit, the turn lane was closed. DPW issued a citation to Cablik Inc. LLC for $1,353 for doing work in the [right-of-way] without a permit.”

The crosswalk was aligned with the turn lane, she said, which posed a hazard for pedestrians. Until it could be re-aligned, the city was blocking it off to “avoid any possible conflicts between turning vehicles and pedestrians.”

Marber, who crosses that intersection all the time, is quick to add that he's not opposed to The Mix development.

"I do support the development of the parking lot for retail," he said by email. "I am glad the city closed the turn lane as it is not safe. If they move the crosswalk, I would be fine with it.”

Repeated calls to Landau’s office were not returned, but a real estate broker for City Homes Realty said Friday that the project is still on hold.

The developer will pay for the repairs, said Reese McRanie, deputy communications director for the DPW.

And the plan to reconstruct the two handicap ramps and striping, she added, “has been approved will be completed by next Wednesday.”