[MassHistPres] Brick paving

[Sullivan, Charles M.]

Cambridge has been working actively to make brick sidewalks accessible, especially in Harvard Square. However, it is difficult to achieve the code requirement that gaps or differences in elevation can be no greater than ¼", especially when attempting to reuse older, worn bricks. (Note that accessibility advocates have been pressing for an even stricter standard to achieve smoothness). City Hall Pavers, the default paver for many years, must be laid with great care to achieve this goal, and sometimes cannot achieve it. Also, it is extremely difficult to execute a compliant access ramp in brick.

The greatest problem occurs in high-traffic areas. In Harvard Square, which is located in a conservation district, the CHC has approved the use of wire-cut bricks. These are a clay product manufactured with a high degree of dimensional uniformity that makes it easier to achieve code performance. They are also uniform in color and texture, bearing only a passing resemblance to traditional sidewalk pavers, but the Commission decided this was an appropriate tradeoff under the circumstances.

In historic districts, the CHC has required the reconstruction of sidewalks with water-struck brick on sand over an asphalt setting bed. The contrast between the two methods can be seen at the corner of Garden Street and Massachusetts Avenue, where the Garden Street sidewalk meets the wire-cut pavers of Harvard Square. We have also had a long stretch of bluestone pavers reset along Brattle Street. In all cases, though, we have accepted concrete for access ramps and side slopes as the only practical material for this condition.

Charles Sullivan
________________________________
Charles M. Sullivan, Executive Director
Cambridge Historical Commission
831 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, Mass.  02139
617 349-4684 voice, 349-3116 fax

From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Joey Glushko
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 10:21 AM
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: [MassHistPres] Brick paving

Our community is looking to improve and remediate some distressed areas which have brick paving; it is in the area of a National Register Historic District, so we would like to keep the brick, if we can, but still be able to respond to the concerns of individuals who point out the hazards offered by the uneven surfaces of old brick walkways.  Can anyone provide direction/suggestion to finding information for brick paving standards and specifications for historic areas?  Technical references would help, as well as images of where brick pavements have been successfully maintained as a good walkable surface.

Where listpeople have experienced satisfactory replacement of old brick walkways with other materials, we'd like to hear what alternatives were used;  we'd like to find an alternative which can give the "look" of brick, if we cannot find a way to to satisfactorily restore the brick surface.

Your help and guidance would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

Joey Glushko, Planner
Planning and Comm. Devel.
Arlington, MA  02476
Phone:  781-316-3093
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