City Fills In Massive Sidewalk Sinkhole In Park Slope Following CBS2 Report
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It's not every day that you confront a problem and have it solved the next day.
But when CBS2's Steve Langford demanded answers Friday about a massive sidewalk sinkhole in Park Slope, Brooklyn, he got action -- fast.
The sinkhole on 10th Street near 4th Avenue was so deep it looked like an open cave.
To demonstrate how deep and dangerous the sinkhole was, Langford put a piece of wood about 6 feet tall into the depths of the cavern and it completely disappeared.
"I reported this June 23 to 311," said one neighbor on Friday.
But just hours after Langford went to the site of the sinkhole to demand answers, the monstrous hole was finally filled and paved over.
"Oh look how quick that happened," said one neighbor.
A city work crew showed up late Friday night to put an end to the black hole of a bureaucratic booby trap and the Department of Environmental Protection inspected the site Saturday, Langford reported.
"I'm glad for you guys. You done the right thing. Now we know who to go to," said William Snyder.
Now, children in the neighborhood can play safely along the sidewalk.
"We have three kids. We were terrified one of them was going to fall through," said Judy Gannushkin.
"Why can't people walk around? I had it all cordoned off here. Why can't they walk around?" asked Marco Tedesco.
Tedesco identified himself as the executor of the estate that owns the vacant home behind the sinkhole. He was not happy about the city's emergency repairs, at first, Langford reported.
"And they can't give me a break on this? I got a contractor coming in," he said.
But later, Tedesco returned to tell Langford he's glad the city filled in the pit, for which the city said the homeowner is responsible.
"If I have to pay them, no problem. They did me a favor filling that in," he said.
The city's DEP performed the emergency overnight repairs. The Department of Transportation said both agencies will coordinate to address the long-term issues.