Dear Sir/Madam, These "Augusta Block" brick roads and granite curbs were installed in 10 Florida cities - including Gainesville - in the early 1900s up to the 1930s. The bricks are made of hardened, "vitrified" clay, fired at higher temperature than ordinary building bricks. They have withstood over a century of cars and large trucks. They have outlasted many more modern paving materials and require less maintenance than asphalt or concrete. Why would we remove such roads? These Augusta Block bricks are still functional, needing very little maintenance. Some of the Augusta Block bricks are no longer level and do need to be dug up and reseated to restore a level surface. This saves our city a significant amount of money, maintains the long history and service they have provided. They are much easier to walk on, rather than a broom swept cement replacement. I can see where we might be setting our city up for law suits, because people are going to fall easier. The Augusta Block bricks will continue to be of value in the future, unlike our roads that fall apart in a few years with potholes, which can cause significant damage to our cars. Let’s keep the lovely ambiance our historic downtown provides for our community. The area already makes for a great outdoor dining area and civic space. The Augusta Block bricks and granite curbs give the area an authentic historic feel. Sincerely, Sharon A. Manger Proud member of the Gainesville Woman’s Club, and Gainesville resident since the early 1980’s Sent from my iPhone