A citizen’s request for a sidewalk on Lorimer Road in the Avent West section of southwest Raleigh in May 2014 has turned into a divisive $1.7 $2.7 million project, causing tension and acrimony in a once peaceful old Raleigh neighborhood.

This website is a chronicling of the before, during and after of the sidewalk petition and controversial petition process, a process that involved deceit, the witholding of information and divide-and-conquer tactics. Included here are documents, letters and emails (including those obtained through public records requests), minutes from City Council and neighborhood meetings, affidavits, Facebook posts and more.

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“This is our street. We do not support the unnecessary, expensive, and invasive sidewalk plan (which also includes pipes and gutters putting all street runoff directly into Bushy Creek rather than through the permeable, vegetated side ditches already there). Although 68% of residents signed the petition, many feel they misunderstood key information, and some even feel that they were misled by the two persistent neighbors behind the effort. And the petition was submitted before it had to be. A reasonable compromise is possible.” (Lorimer Road resident, 9/30/2015)

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THE MAJOR PLAYERS:

– DONNA MOLL BURFORD – The Petitioner (Fairway Ridge Drive* resident)

– SHARON MOLL MIXON – The Petitioner’s Sister (Lorimer Road resident since 2013) —It was Sharon who wanted the sidewalk in the first place.

– City Council Member KAY CROWDER – District D Representative (Ashburton Road* resident) —The main force behind the project’s adoption.

– City of Raleigh employee DONETTA POWELL (Public Works Department) —Although the City denies it, Powell played an active role in getting the Lorimer Road petition passed.

* Currently, these streets don’t have sidewalks themselves.

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As the petition was being circulated around the neighborhood, the petitioner wrote this on Facebook, “Communication and community is what it is all about.”

That was then….

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