Wilkinsburg residents demand action on hazardous hole left from home demolition
- Residents of a Wilkinsburg neighborhood are dealing with a hazardous hole resulting from a recent home demolition.
- The open pit is filled with stagnant water, raw sewage, and debris, leading to serious health concerns for local families.
- Residents are urging local authorities to address the problem promptly as it poses significant safety risks, especially to children.
In Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, residents have been facing increasing frustration due to a deep hole left from a home demolition that took place about eight weeks ago. The demolition resulted in a vast pit filled with stagnant water, raw sewage, and debris, creating a significant safety and sanitary issue for the neighborhood. Residents living along Ross Avenue have expressed concerns about the health risks posed by the hazardous conditions, particularly for children in the area. Reports indicate that the foul odor from the sewage is palpable, with residents like Keith Jones and Lynda Scott voicing their discomfort and anxieties about the potential dangers associated with the pit. The origins of the problem trace back to the demolition of a nearby home. After the house was torn down, only half of the dirt was cleared away, leaving the pit exposed and vulnerable. While Wilkinsburg code enforcement officials confirmed that they were supposed to cap the sewage line, the site remains unattended. Residents have reached out to various agencies seeking resolution, only to be met with responses shifting responsibility between the borough and the city. Local authorities, including the Allegheny County Health Department, have been notified about the issue. They are expected to conduct plumbing inspections before the hole can be filled in to mitigate the hazards that have arisen. However, the residents are left wondering about the timeline for these actions as the pit has not seen any resolution for several weeks. Lynda Scott has been particularly vocal about her concerns, emphasizing the importance of addressing the issue before it leads to further health complications. In the meantime, residents have resorted to constant complaints and pleas for action, with some expressing their despair over the city’s lack of urgency. The affected community continues to monitor the situation closely as they express hope for a quick resolution to this growing concern, which threatens both their health and the safety of their neighborhood.