Baltimore residents angry over sight left blighted by demolition works.
Dropping down about nine feet, the hole is unsecured and filled with cinder blocks, spare tires, bricks, plaster and broken rubble. Near the hole is a shattered city sidewalk and bent light pole. The sidewalk took a battering Friday afternoon after a P&J crew jockeyed a truck up and over the curb to drop off some cinder blocks. When the crew started working, the light pole was straight. A day later, the pole was leaning over.
According to residents, it’s been six weeks since an excavator tore down the vacant rowhouses, then pretty much abandoned the project. The company’s excavator is still on the site, its side cab doors swung wide open last week.
“This mess has gone on too long,” said Ornat Erby, who lives around the corner on Biddle Street. “If you knock it down, you should have your trucks rolling to take it away.”
Because the old buildings had lead paint, it’s especially urgent to remove the old plaster and wood and get it away from children and families who live near the congested alley street, neighbors said.
But community leaders believe that P&J is not going to help them any time soon. “This contractor has an attitude of mind-your-own-business,” Erby said. “He doesn’t have to answer to anyone.”
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