Decorative bricks breaking down

ANCHORAGE - For many, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

But decorative bricks meant to beautify a downtown Anchorage intersection are becoming an eyesore. They are breaking down after only a few months of use.

The design feature was part of a large-scale plan to expand the festival-like setting around Town Square. The idea is to make a broader section of downtown into a place where people enjoy walking, where tourists dawdle and where businesses thrive.

The state early this year warned the city against installing the pavers.

But the city went ahead, guaranteeing the state that it would cover any problems.