Sheepshead Bay: Sinkhole Hell


by on Oct 14th, 2010

An enormous sinkhole roughly three feet wide and at least four feet deep continues to plague residents of Hubbard Street, who say they’ve been complaining to the city since May.

“When a small child or a passenger falls in, it will be too late,” neighbor Frank M. wrote to us in September. “After eight (8) notifications since may 2010 to 311, 911,assemblyman and small vehicle that reports holes. Not ONE THING has been done.”

The sinkhole is on Hubbard Street between Avenue Z and Shore Parkway, which is now part of the detour route for the Belt Parkway westbound entrance ramp while work continues on the Guider Avenue / East 8th Street bridge.

The sinkhole today.

Since his letter last month, Frank M. tells us there’s been some progress, but hardly enough to ensure the safety of neighbors.

“The fire department came last week and filled it with dirt bags and left, that’s about it,” he said. And the hole has grown larger around, as chunks of concrete from the sidewalk fall into the gaping asphalt.

But Hubbard Street is not alone. We’ve noticed a number of streets in the neighborhood that are pocked by similar sinkholes and large potholes, especially around manholes and storm drains. East 16th Street, from Avenue U to Avenue Z, seems to be one of the worst, with over a dozen holes the size of a softball or larger, and whose surfaces hang precariously over hollowed chambers. Neighbors tell me these have been reported as well.

So let’s get a running – and public – list going. Do you know of any large potholes or sinkholes on your block? Add it in the comments section.

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  • BrooklynBus

    More evidence that 311 does not work. It just makes it easier to complain. It gives people a place to vent. But as for results? It’s a big failure. Bloomberg has touted 311 as the greatest thing since sliced bread. He needs to make its statistics public.

  • Gene2

    man… dont get me started on sinkholes and potholes .. you need a tank to go around brooklyn.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CIXKMWVRUVBKQ4CT75NB5BAEBU Death

      Agreed, I think and this is a matter of opinion but I think those pot holes are there on purpose the more people destroy there cars the more money they spend fixing them and such. As for sinkholes well that’s just cruel

      Something needs to be done :-(

  • Brightonresident

    So where’s the $15 auto use tax money going??? Certainly not to fix the streets!!!

    • http://www.nedberke.com Ned Berke

      Well, they recently repaved East 17th street (or was it 19th) even though there was nothing wrong with it. And they repaved a section of Bedford Avenue near Parkside Avenue, even though there was nothing wrong with it. They repaved Shore Boulevard in Manhattan Beach, even though there was nothing wrong with it (and residents objected). So it seems that money is going to street repairs… just on streets that don’t need repairing.

      I remember years ago I was told that a certain dollar amount is allocated to doing repaving, and if they don’t use it, they lose it. So streets are arbitrarily chosen for repairs, it seems, while side streets that need it are left to languish. Perhaps if the 311 records were public, a better list of streets in need could be developed. If only…

      • BrooklynBus

        I fully agree with you. The same holds true for the highways, although I’m not sure if City DOT or State DOT is responsible for that. Parts of the Belt Parkway that are in good condition are resurfaced, while other sections that are in far worse shape go unrepaired for years.

        Perhaps, politics play a role. Why is it that for years there are parking meter signs in front of El Greco without any meters? Is it because someone there with political power made a call to DOT and had them not put in the meters?

  • Anonymous

    On E27 Street there are a couple of doozies. There are sink holes around the areas of a lot of manhole covers and sewers. They have needed to be raised for a dozen years or more. That’s what happens when the pipe lines shift and sink.

  • Allen

    About 2 weeks ago they repaved east 16th from neck road to ave y, not sure if they repaved the ave u to ave v because i haven’t drove on that part in forever and same for ave y to ave z

  • Georgia

    We have been fighting on East 17th street for many years. They ripped up the street 20 years ago, ever since then it’s patch work. You can damage your car if you ride on the right side of the street it’s a roller coaster. So far the repaired from Kings Highway east 16,18th & 19th street down to Ave Z. East 17th was forgotten again. The whole city is a mess pay taxes and nothing in return. They should empty there pockets and start giving back or tighten there belts I am speaking of the fat cats who run this city.

  • Anonymous

    East 16th Street from Neck Rd. to Z has been recently paved and it’s smooth sailing throughout.
    Sinkholes take a lot more to repair than paving. They need to be structurally rebuilt from underneath. Filling in is just a short temporary fix.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Alex-Shafiro/206402590 Alex Shafiro

    Our part of Brooklyn always gets the short end of the stick. Its like pulling teeth to get anything done around here. And when something is done its done half assed. The street that was repaved on East 16th and Quentin still does not have any line at the intersection. I called 311 and 61st pre. And sorry if the comes out wrong but what happened to the garbage cans are people stealing them. First there was two and they where both always full. Then there was one and it got moved across the street. Now there are non and the garbage just pills up. This is crazy that we can get one F-in garbage can. Sorry I’m done.

  • BrooklynBus

    Just saw a story on Channel 4. Residents in Queens called 311 to complain the curb was broken and people were tripping on it. DOT finally sent down an inspector after numerous calls. Guess what happened next? Instead of fixing the broken crurb, all the homeowners were ticketed for minor cracks in their sidewalks which will cost them a total of $5,000 to repair. Then the City denied that the complaint was for the broken curb saying the complaint for for the broken sidewalk!

    They are trying to send a message not to complain if it will cost the City money and are using 311 as a means to generate revenue not to fix problems.

  • Edlane Nyc

    If this is the hole on Hubbard between Ave Z and Shore Pkwy then there is hope tonight. A crew is out there tonight Oct. 20th. I just drove by and they were fixing the problem.

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