Manayunk residents express frustrations over sinking sidewalk, repair costs

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Residents on the 100 block of Conarroe Street in Philadelphia's Manayunk section say a worsening collapse in the pavement outside their homes has left them concerned not only about safety, but also about who will pay to fix it.

The hole, which neighbors say has been growing for months, would cost homeowner Eleanor Patafio around $12,000 to repair.

"And that's a heck of a lot of money for one person who's retired," Patafio said.

Neighbors say the problems began back in December 2024 with a water main break.

Kevin Loughlin, who lives on the block, said crews repaired the break immediately, but the street remained covered by a metal plate for months.

"It took them like 10 months to actually patch the hole," he said. "So that's when we thought things were fixed, but clearly not."

According to the Philadelphia Water Department, the initial work also included repairs to a customer's broken sewer line, but residents say the ground continued to sink.

"Slowly everything started sinking in, and now, like the past month or three weeks, it just progressed much faster," Loughlin said.

After repeated calls and 311 requests, neighbors say the water department sent a crew last week.

"They came out and eventually said my neighbor's sewage line is leaking - that's the reason why, and she has to fix it," Loughlin said, referencing Patafio.

In Philadelphia, homeowners are responsible for maintaining and repairing their sewer lines.

Patafio said she received a notice that she had 10 days to address the issue. "If not, they're gonna shut my water off," she said.

A spokesperson for the Philadelphia Water Department said the agency plans to reach out to Patafio to work with her on completing the repairs and addressing the costs. The spokesperson also said the notice about shutting off her water was a formality issued by field staff.

Once the sewer line is fixed, the city will repair the street.