City takes action after residents raise concerns about long‑stalled Holmesburg construction site

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia officials took action at a construction site in the Holmesburg section of the city on Thursday after residents reported the long-abandoned project had become a public safety hazard.

(The video in the player above is from previous coverage.)

Residents contacted Action News on Wednesday, and we reached out to the city.

Neighbors said work began several years ago at 4116 Walsh Road but stopped in 2023, leaving behind a large open pit filled with trash. They said the fence surrounding the site had collapsed and the roadway beside it had begun to crumble, raising fears that a person or vehicle could fall in if the city did not intervene.

READ MORE | Holmesburg residents call construction site a safety hazard as complaints mount

In a statement, the communications director for the Department of Licenses and Inspections said, "L&I Inspections, Compliance and Safety (ISC) division issued a Stop Work Notice to address ongoing violations and site safety concerns. L&I ISC will be taking all appropriate legal action against the owner and other responsible parties for neglecting the construction site and potentially creating a serious safety hazard."

The department said it has contacted the property owner's representative.

"The owner's consultant has been notified and is coordinating directly with the owner, who has been instructed to immediately secure the property with proper fencing due to safety concerns for the surrounding community," the statement said.

Residents shared video of the new fencing on Thursday.

City officials did not provide a timeline for next steps, but said enforcement efforts are underway.