Giant sinkhole in Philly’s Mayfair neighborhood leaves residents frustrated: 'We want our block to be safe'

PHILADELPHIA - A massive sinkhole on the 2900 block of Fanshawe Street in Mayfair has become a major concern for neighbors who say it continues to grow, creating unsafe conditions with no clear repair plan from city agencies, according to residents.

What we know:

The sinkhole started as a small hole the size of a watermelon but is now as large as a living room, with residents saying the problem has persisted for months.

Rose Bordeaux, who has lived on the street for 26 years, said, "My biggest concern right now gentlemen, is that this whole street could go. That's my biggest concern. If it can go to this how much further down is it going to go. It's terrible."

Bordeaux said that in the last month, the hole went from something small to a "giant problem," explaining, "It started three, four weeks ago, all of a sudden the last two it's been like wow, it's massive now what happened."

Local perspective:

Community members say ongoing work by the Philadelphia Water Department and Gas Works has not fixed the issue. Gus, who lives on the street, said, "They put plates over it, covered it up, and then had a pile of dirt but wasn't as big, it's gotten worse I don't know what else they did but the left and when are they coming back."

Shawna, another resident, said, "I just want them to fix it because it's a hazard, I'm more worried about the kids, sucks for parking but more worried about the little people, trying to play or the older ones that are more inquisitive that are playing on it because I don't want anyone getting hurt."

What they're saying:

In a statement shared with FOX 29 News, Philadelphia Gas Works said the space is not their worksite. 

"Our crew was onsite surveying the worksite in response to your inquiry," the PGW statement said. "The team confirmed that it is not our worksite."

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