Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Dirt Still Being Excavated Uptown
By
Jen Chung
Published May 14, 2005
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published May 14, 2005
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The city is still trying to figure out what happened to the Washington Heights retaining wall that collapsed Thursday afternoon as they hope to get most of it cleaned up by the Monday morning commute, however unlikely that may be. It turns out that Castle Village residents had complained for many years about the wall's instability, seeing small rocks fall from it. Mayor Bloomberg says the city will not be paying for repairs and cleanup, since the wall is private property - Castle Village's - and because the city doesn't "have the money" to pay for repairs to "every private piece of property." The city is demolishing other unstable parts of the wall. Many experts say that the methods used in 1908 to build the wall were not up to modern standards - plus a wall that high would never be built today. What should be interesting to see today and tomorrow is the big tarp they plan to put over the dirtslide, in anticipation of rain - it'll be like a modern art installation.
Photograph from wolfey's Flickr photostream - many thanks
Tagged
art
bloomberg
castle village
flickr
heights
mayor
mayor bloomberg
money
News: NYC
photos
rain
the city
washington
Washington Heights
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Mamdani names re-entry specialist as chair of Rikers oversight board
Christopher Watler will help the department that a federal monitor says remains in crisis.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 6, 2026 at 3:52 p.m. ET
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
News
NYC weighs expanding upstate reservoir following drought
The Delaware River Basin Commission is evaluating options to increase water storage, including expanding a reservoir in New York City.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Legionella found in Staten Island building's water system after 2 positive cases
By
Catalina Gonella
Legal 'loophole' helps NY Gov. Kathy Hochul, Bruce Blakeman raise millions
By
Jon Campbell
Police identify 2 men wanted for stabbing an off-duty NYPD officer
By
Ben Feuerherd
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .