THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 5, 1995 TAG: 9502030261
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL REED, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Ex-Navy man Daniel Hammer is steamed about a sidewalk obstruction in the Pembroke Meadows area that routes strollers and bikers into traffic and possibly into harm's way.
He's even more steamed that neither the city nor the owners of Pembroke Crossing Condominiums, which front North Witchduck Road near Independence Boulevard, have yet to do anything about it.
For the past two weeks he has shouldered a large white sandwich board bearing the bold, black letters ``Sidewalk Unsafe'' and patrolled North Witchduck Road to make his point.
He's been on television briefly, recently stated his case to the local newspaper, and bearded City Hall.
``I started writing letters in January,'' Hammer huffed on a chilled, sunny morning last week. ``They sent a couple of guys out here to look at it, but nobody wants to do anything about it.''
The problem, Hammer pointed out, is a median strip. It is topped by a stubby thatch of shrubbery and juts from Gable Way, an entrance to the condo complex, and extends to the curb line of North Witchduck. The structure cuts off pedestrian traffic along the sidewalk, forcing walkers, bike riders or mothers with baby strollers out into a busy eastbound traffic lane.
``Suppose a 10-year-old kid on a bicycle was riding down here,'' said Hammer. ``He's gotta go out into the road and he can't see if a car's coming.''
Hammer, 64 and a 27-year Navy veteran, lives on nearby Whistlers Lane in the Aragona section of the city. He takes a regular morning walk around the neighborhood, which includes the stretch of North Witchduck sidewalk.
He noticed the obstruction one morning several weeks ago as he walked east on North Witchduck. ``There was this lady with a stroller ahead of me and when she got to this point, she stopped,'' said Hammer, pointing to the median. ``I'm riled up about it and the more I talk about it, the madder I get.''
Hammer's prodding has produced some results. City Councilman Robert K. Dean drove over to look at the problem Wednesday and said he has tracked down the condominium complex governing board and is trying to determine whether the board or the city is responsible for fixing the obstruction.
``My suggestion is removing the whole front end or making a cut-through like you do on traffic islands at intersections,'' Dean said.
Daniel C. McAteer, with Pembroke Crossing Community Group, which manages the condominiums, said he and the board of directors of the condos are trying to determine who is responsible for removing the obstruction.
``The issue is apparently access across the sidewalk,'' said McAteer. ``And we're looking into the building codes, time of construction, what are the requirements, what are our legal obligations under this and proceed accordingly so we do everything that is proper.''
Roy Hale, highway maintenance superintendent for the city, offered a swifter solution. ``I'm glad Mr. Hammer brought it to our attention,'' he said. ``We hope to do something about it next week or the week after that.''
Mike Greenway, a supervisor at the city's Traffic Engineering office, also offers hope for a solution in the near future. ``I've got to give it to my technicians to see what can be done about it,'' he said Thursday.
Hammer, meanwhile, says he will not let the matter rest.
``I'll keep picking at it and picking at it and picking at it,'' he said. ``I have plenty of time and I know how to irritate people and I'm going to keep doing it until somebody does something about it.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
Daniel Hammer pickets on Witchduck Road at the entrance to Pembroke
Crossings Condominiums. Hammer says a stubby thatch of shrubbery
forces pedestrians on the sidewalk out into busy eastbound traffic.
by CNB