A sinkhole is growing and so concern for drivers and people living near it.
People who live along New York Street in Cooper-Young say it’s been two weeks and so far the city has only placed a cone over the hole.
The neighborhood said it wasn’t getting any help from the city until the I-Team got involved.
“I thought it was just a pothole,” said Vanessa Waites, “But it looks more like a sinkhole.”
The art teacher recently moved into a home on New York Street. She says moving in was a hassle because of what she thought was a pothole.
“We had to maneuver the moving truck around it,” she said. “It was really difficult.”
Waites isn’t the only one taking issue with the sinkhole. Numerous neighbors told the Local I-Team the hole started out small but quickly expanded.
“It’s actually been really difficult because it’s directly in the middle of the street,” said Ellen Cumba. “If there’s cars parked on both sides it’s been really hard to get around and even to park in our driveway it is a little difficult.”
The Local I-Team put a camera below the surface. Footage showed erosion spanning a two-foot radius.
Neighbors say the potential hazard is real.
“My concern is that the whole street might cave in at some point,” said Cumba. “There’s some cracks down the middle of the street in the few places that have been recently patched so it’s a concern that it’ll just be getting bigger or if they patch it what’s going to happen to the rest of the street.
Neighbors told the Local I-Team they reported the issue to the City’s Call Center.
The sinkhole is directly in front of Mia Chamberlain’s driveway. She says she was one of the first people to call 311.
“I called but the woman said her computer was down,” said Chamberlain. “She said she would put it in the system. It’s been two weeks.
Unable to get action, the Local I-Team emailed and placed a call to the mayor’s office. Within two hours an environmental engineering crew showed up.
“The city’s Environmental Engineering crews are aware of the street cavity and are working to address the issue,” said Arlenia Cole, Media Affairs Manager for the mayor’s office. “We received reports to 311 on 8/9/17 and 8/14/17 at 892 New York Street, there are not any other types of similar 311 reports for this section of the street. Crews will investigate the cavity before close of business on tomorrow.”
On scene, Monday evening crews could not tell us what the caused the sinkhole. However, they did conduct a dye test.
“We just hope it get’s fixed,” said Chamberlain, adding she doesn’t want to see the street give way. “Oh no! No, no, no. Definitely not! That’s my only car and I don’t want to lose my only car.”
Neighbors tell the Local I-Team crews told them they will dig up the sewer line, repair it and then fill in the sinkhole.
