People living and working in Durham's Cornwallis Road Community, which is run by Durham Housing Authority, say sinkholes and flooding in the area have become a major hazard.
Cars are forced to park in the street due to flooding in the parking lots. There are over 9 reported sinkholes, the largest nearly the size of a football field. Residents told WRAL News that rain similar to what central North Carolina experienced on Wednesday and Thursday can make the problems worse.
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Residents of the area told WRAL News they reported the sinkholes for months before they were fenced in, but even after the gates went up, the kids found a way in.
“When we first discovered the sinkhole, there were balls over the gate. The smaller one up there, there was literally a bicycle in it," said Beyonnshea Lucas, who volunteers in the community." Just imagine what the kids are doing when nobody is around watching.”
Residents tell WRAL that children have fallen in the sinkholes before, and they hope it doesn't take someone getting hurt for changes to be made.
“They should put the gates higher to make it more stable. Because anybody can fit through there,” said Michael Kirkland, a teenage resident in the neighborhood.
A representative from the Durham Housing Authority told WRAL at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday that a staff member would pump out the water, creating flooding in the area. As of Thursday at 6 p.m., the problem persists.
Many resident felt their complaints were falling on deaf ears.
“They say they try to help people out, but they are not listening to the people who really need help," said Tony Lunsford, another teenager living in the neighborhood.
As far as long-term solutions, DHA says it is evaluating bids for the replacement of the impacted stormwater line causing the flooding.
On Friday at noon, several teenagers and residents of the neighborhood are gathering at the Weaver Recreation Center to speak to city leaders about the problems, including sinkholes and flooding, that persist in the community.