Neighbors fear someone will be injured if the city does not take action.
"I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say it's a death trap," said resident Candace Jackson, describing the large open hole at 4116 Welsh Road. Many people walk and drive past the site on their way to a nearby shopping center.
Jackson said the risks extend to anyone in the area.
"Someone could fall down in here, animals, children playing. There's a day care center right there," she said.
Across the street, Wesley Conover said the site has already caused close calls.
"It's been a major problem," he said.
Earlier this month, he ran to help a driver whose car became stuck.
"A person was driving into the parking lot and was trying to avoid the pothole and almost flipped over, so one wheel went in, and we had to come and rush and hold the car so he could climb out," Conover said.
A two-story house once stood on the property before it burned down in 2022. About a year later, resident Donna Carcel said she reported it as a dangerous site with a collapsed fence to the city after crews began rebuilding. She said three years have now passed without action.
"My concern is nothing gets done...If you look, it's starting to cave in a little at a time. Eventually, we're going to have a much bigger hole," Carcel said.
"They were starting to build something here and then they just left it. Why? I don't know," added Carcel. "It's starting to be a like a trash dump on top of it."
Jackson said she has filed multiple complaints through 311 and to Councilmember Mike Driscoll's office for nearly a year.
"Nothing has been done, and it's been progressively getting worse," she said.
In a statement, Driscoll said his office has escalated the issue.
"Construction sites, big and small, are potentially dangerous. My office has treated this as such and has escalated the matter with Licenses and Inspections. We need to send a clear message that the city will not tolerate these hazardous conditions here or anywhere. We will stay on this."
Carcel said she wants the city to take temporary steps to stabilize the site.
"All I want to ask the city to do is plow this dirt back in until they decide to get together with the owner to do something," she said.
"Our neighbors deserve it; don't forget about the Holmesburg neighborhood," Jackson added.
The mayor's office said it is looking into the matter and will provide more information.