Standard Sidewalk Inc

The sidewalk panels look great. However, during the process, workers from the company caused damage to my property. I did not witness it but my theory is that they accidentally struck my front steps and its limestone wings with their skid-steer (bobcat). I work nights and woke up to find one of the limestone wings of my front steps to be totally collapsed and crumbled. There was no note left or attempt to contact me after it happened. The next morning someone from their company as well as the City of St. Paul were waiting at my house after a phone call was made. They did not apologize but stated that they would "fix it". They offered to "pour concrete" to replace it, which would have been an eyesore because it would not match and not fit with the 19th century architecture of the house. I was leaving for a planned vacation a couple days later, so I ignored the problem for a while. When I returned, I got in touch with a mason who specializes in old homes (my home was built in 1889). He stated that it could not be rebuilt and that new stone would have to be installed. Since there was a wing on both sides of the stairs, both sides would need to be dismantled and replaced. He estimated about $3500 for the job. I made several attempts to get in touch with Standard Sidewalk but they rarely, if ever answered their phones and almost never returned phone calls. Eventually, the only way I could get someone to call me, was to call the city sidewalk inspector who would call them and tell them to call me. Needless to say, this was a tremendous waste of my time and very unprofessional. I left several messages on the voicemail boxes of one their owner/managers as well as the office manager. Eventually I was told to fax a copy of the estimate to them for possible reimbursement. I also dealt with their office manager who was equally unhelpful. I faxed the estimate at the end of September. I waited for over three weeks with no contact from the company. I made a couple phone calls each week with no return calls. Eventually, when I was near the point of cutting my loses and dealing with them in conciliation court, I received a check in the mail for the amount of the mason's estimate. There was no note or letter with it and I received no call from the company even to tell me the check was on the way. Long story short, although I did receive adequate compensation for the damages, Standard Sidewalk handled this in an incredibly unprofessional and rude manner. That was just not the way legitimate businesses should operate. I think they mostly do city contract work, but I would never recommend or hire them for any reason.

The city of Minneapolis hired Standard Sidewalk Inc. to repair sidewalks in my neighborhood. On Friday July 17, 2009 I came home to find that my garden along the boulevard had been damaged. This was very upsetting to me to see several of my plants uprooted, missing, or destroyed. Since I am paying an assessment of $1200 on my property for the sidewalk repair I consider myself the customer. I am two weeks for my due date for my first child and I am in no condition to try and repair my garden. I was even told by one of the workmen that "it was not my property" and "they could do want they wanted". I have before and after pictures as proof to the damage. Once the workmen completed the sidewalk I was not offered any apologies even though they knew my distress. The workmen simply packed up their gear and left my garden in ruins. I even had to go out and pick up after them (they had left some caution tape laying in my yard). I am submitting this report so that other residences of Minneapolis that may have their sidewalk repaired by Standard Sidewalk Inc. can be aware of possible damage to their property and maybe save their gardens before they are destroyed. The city of Minneapolis encourages its' residences to plant boulevard gardens to collect rain water and to beautify the city.