4 DECEMBER 3, 2020 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Huge sinkhole swallows car in Maspeth
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
AACEVEDO@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
A huge sinkhole swallowed up an
unoccupied vehicle in Maspeth
on Thursday, Nov. 26, and a
nearby homeowner believes it caused
his basement to fl ood.
Wangdi Sherpa owns the home
next to where the sinkhole appeared
on 70th Street. He told QNS he woke
up at about 5 a.m. to find his brother
Thupten Topjy’s Toyota sunken below
the pavement.
“I was very surprised. It was very
scary,” said Sherpa, who was grateful
no one got hurt.
That day, the NYPD and FDNY
departments responded by blocking
0ff the street and site safety.
The Department of Environmental
Protection and National Grid were
also there to conduct an evaluation
of the infrastructure.
The contractor began work to
repair the street that day and was
completed by approximately 5 p.m.,
according to Department of Design
and Construction spokesperson Ian
Michaels.
Local Councilman Robert Holden
said the city needs to investigate the
cause of the sinkhole.
“I have spoken today with the New
York City Department of Design and
Construction and they assured me
that they will determine what happened
and make sure the area is
safe,” Holden wrote in a Facebook
post on Friday Nov. 27. “Starting on
Monday, they will assess the area
using ground-penetrating radar and
other methods. My office will post
updates as they become available.”
Sinkholes are not uncommon in
New York City. Michaels said they
are still not sure what caused this
sinkhole in particular, but it could be
anything such as a leaking pipe between
a water or sewer connection.
There is currently an extensive
sewer project taking place in Maspeth,
which Sherpa believes may
have caused the sinkhole. Many
residents have complained about
external and internal damage to
homes due to the major sewer projects
in the neighborhood, such as the
Calamus Avenue sewer project.
Michaels told QNS that they can’t
immediately link the sewer project
to the sinkhole, as they often occur
where there is no construction
taking place.
But Sherpa said his home has had
some damages as a result of the sewer
project. That same day, his basement
flooded, which he attributes to the
sinkhole, but he’s also noticed new
cracks in his driveway.
“It’s not only my house; my neighbor
has the same problem,” said Sherpa.
“His driveway is badly cracked too.”
Photos courtesy of Wangi Sherpa
Sherpa said he had to call 311 about
Nov. 30, and is now back to normal.
two times to have the city address the
He also said the city will also fix his
flooding. He had temporary water
brother’s vehicle.
delivered to his home until Monday,
Anyone who believes their
property has been damaged as a
result of city construction work
can file a complaint with the City
Comptroller’s office.
Board 5 meeting on Dec. 9
Community Board 5 will host a virtual meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m.
The agenda for the meeting includes a review of current applications for the sale of alcholoic beverages
locally; a review of building demolition notifi cations; and a recommendation regarding the proposed Citywide
Zoning Text Amendment for Coastal Flood Resiliency.
Anyone who wishes to submit testimony to be read during the public forum section of the meeting is asked to send
typed testimony of three minutes or less to Board 5 via email (qn05@cb.nyc.gov by 2 p.m. on Dec. 9.
Those who wish to view the meeting can visit youtu.be/kuuaZ3d-ojA or by visiting the CB5 website at nyc.gov/
qnscb5.
For more information, contact the CB 5 offi ce at 718-366-12834.
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