WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Crews with the DC Department of Public Works (DPW) cleaned up a massive trash pile at an apartment complex in Northeast D.C. on Tuesday morning.
Crews were at the building in the 5100 block of Sheriff Road NE at around 9 a.m., less than 24 hours after DC News Now first reported on the growing problem.
Officials from DPW, the Department of Buildings (DOB), the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the office of Ward 7 Councilmember Wendell Felder were there to oversee and assist in the effort.
Crews brought in small bulldozers, rakes, and large roll-off dumpsters to get the job done.
“This [work] right here, it’s perfect. It’s getting done right on time. I’m very happy and these tenants are very happy,” said neighbor and property caretaker Stevie Lovett, watching crews work Tuesday morning.
Neighbors said the mountain of trash had been growing for over a month, piled up over five feet tall in some spots. Among the debris were whole mattresses, loose food, bagged trash and boxes. Residents said the previous trash contract may have expired, or gone unpaid, contributing to the pile.
Felder told DC News Now that it’s unacceptable the situation escalated to the point it did.
“It’s disturbing, you know? No neighbor in Ward 7 should live like this,” said Felder. “Let this be an example, no longer in Ward 7 will this behavior be tolerated.”
MPD officers at the scene said the department’s Environmental Crimes Unit and the DPW were looking into whether the pile-up was a case of illegal dumping or whether criminal and/or civil charges could be brought.
One of the buildings in front of the trash pile site along Sheriff Road NE is also now under investigation for habitability. From the alleyway, there is standing water in the basement of the complex, which residents say used to be a laundry room.
The DOB lists the property owner as “711 49th St LLC.”
DOB Director Brian Hanlon was on site Tuesday morning and said crews would be coming out to assess the property later in the day.
“This is an owner, a landlord, who has completely failed in their requirement to provide a habitable environment,” said Hanlon. “This building has blight, it has broken and open windows. and what looks like three feet of standing water in the basement, it’s unsafe. We have had inspectors out here and I have to determine what the findings were from the last inspection.”
“A bad actor has come into Ward 7, and has operated for quite some time,” said Felder.
DC News Now has made efforts to reach out to the property owner and their legal representatives, but did not receive a response.
