A lengthy brick wall marks the perimeter of the Oakridge neighborhood. This wall is bordered by approximately 80 Oakridge homes.
Who is responsible for repair and maintenance of the brick wall?
According to the original Oakridge subdivision plats and the City of Garland, the homeowners who border the wall are responsible for any repairs that the walls may require. The wall is considered private property belonging to these homeowners. (In 2001, at the request of the ONA, the City of Garland Planning Department reviewed the plats and confirmed the wall is private property. A copy of the letter from the Planning Department was published in the October 2001 edition of the newsletter on page 7.)
Homeowners are responsible for locating a masonry contractor to repair or replace damaged walls. (Pro tip: The homeowner should not pay the masonry contractor until the brick work on the wall is completed to the homeowner’s satisfaction.)
Note: Although each property owner is responsible for repairs, the ONA recognizes that the condition of the wall impacts the beauty of Oakridge. As such, the ONA can be contacted to assist the homeowners in obtaining a police report and a landscape repair estimate (if applicable). The ONA can be reached at info@oakridgena.org.
What should homeowners do in the event of an automobile accident?
If damage is due to an automobile accident, then the homeowners bordering that section of the wall must work with the driver or insurance company to repair the wall.
Get a copy of the police report. If the homeowner witnesses the accident, they can ask the police officer at the scene for a report number. The homeowner can also get the report number by calling the Records Department at 972-205-1657 and providing the accident date and location. If the homeowner needs additional assistance locating the report, they can email Officer Barnes at BarnesT@garlandtx.gov or send an email to the ONA Crime Prevention & Safety Committee Director at safety@oakridgena.org.
Contact the insurance company. Homeowners should contact their own insurance agent and explain the situation. The insurance company is in a stronger position to advocate for the homeowner. Besides speaking the same “insurance” lingo, insurance companies are backed by a legal team to help negotiate these kinds of settlements. Otherwise the responsible automobile owner’s insurance company will just keep dragging things out. In case of an unknown or uninsured motorist, a homeowner’s only course of action may be to file a claim against their insurance policy.
Get an estimate for landscape damage. If neighborhood landscaping or perimeter trees are damaged in the accident, the homeowner should contact environment@oakridgena.org to request an estimate to replace the damaged plants or trees.
Get an estimate for the wall damage. The homeowner should locate a masonry contractor to get an estimate on what it will cost to repair the damaged wall.
What bricks should be used in rebuilding or repairing the wall?
The brick styles that were originally used on the perimeter wall are no longer available. Homeowners are asked to match them as closely as possible.
One possible source for bricks is Gartex Masonry Supply, 10310 Plano Road, Dallas (phone 214/343-0571).
For comparison purposes, or if the masonry contractor would like to know, here are the names of the original brick styles that are no longer available:
- Jupiter, Beltline, and Shiloh north of Big Oaks Drive – Acme Brick “Blend 10”
- Shiloh south of Big Oaks and Buckingham – mostly U.S. Brick “Old Town”
