WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Neighbors upset about debris left behind from demolished home

Neighbors upset about debris left behind from demolished home

By Connie Leonard - bio | email
Posted by Charles Gazaway - email

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - When Habitat for Humanity comes into a neighborhood, it is always a good thing. But several months ago, a contractor working for the organization left behind a big mess. When residents said when they couldn't get any help, they called WAVE 3. 

"I just started doing a little research on the properties on line," said Michele Williams. 

Williams moved to Gallagher Street in June. Two months later, Habitat for Humanity demolished a boarded up home next door. 

"The property was torn down on August 29th and here it is November 25th and all the debris is still there," Williams said. "It looks like a dumping site." 

Besides being an eyesore, Williams and her neighbors say people are now throwing trash on top of it and it is dangerous with broken bricks and rusty nails sticking through rotting boards. 

"They need to clean it up. It's been here at least four months and little kids come over here playing in it," said Charles Smith, a neighbor of Williams.

"I have a son who's disabled and I want him to feel comfortable bringing his friends over and stuff like that and I don't even feel comfortable having company over," said Williams.

Williams said she realizes that she does not live on the best street in Louisville, but says her little block should not be forgotten.

"I just think, people should fight for what they believe in no matter what," said Williams. 

Williams called Habitat for Humanity and they gave her the contractor's number. She called the contractor who told her he was running behind. Williams said that was fine, but she wanted to know when she was going to move the debris pile.

"He said, ‘we'll do the best we can' and then he hung up on me," said Williams.

After weeks of getting nowhere, Williams went back to her notes and called WAVE 3. We called Rob Locke, executive director for Habitat for Humanity, who had a message for Williams.

"What I would say to her is I'm sorry it's taken this long to get this addressed," said Locke.

Locke told us he had no idea the demo contractor left such a mess behind. The contractor contends the debris is on top of a cellar that must be filled-in with a truckload of soil that he's waiting on.

"We have a clear understanding with our demo contractor that if it doesn't get done by early next week, we're going to be looking somewhere else to get this done," Locke said. 

"I'd love it," said Williams when told of the action to be taken. "I would be so happy I might do a happy dance." 

According to Locke, sometimes getting rid of old homes is tougher than putting the new ones up.

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