This is an issue every winter, and there are also potholes under the wster--before the freeze I saw people sink and fall when they tried to walk through it.

Mobility-impaired and other pedestrians are forced to walk in the street 1/2 block to get access to the sidewalk! This is a year-round problem, not limited to winter months.

Even in summer this "lake" has been a chronic problem: it is a visible, significant breeding ground for mosquitoes.

I will investigate this issue further. If you ever notice a sewer that drains very slowly, sometimes it is intentional to prevent the sewer system from becoming overwhelmed and backing up into basements.

-Ibrahim

Dangerous black ice in winter and mosquito breeding swamp in summer. This has been a problem for years.

I just spoke with the Department of Water Commissioners office and they have scheduled that catch basin to be cleaned when the weather breaks. The machinery that is used is not effective in freezing conditions. I hope this will eliminate the unwanted "lake" in Hyde Park.

-Ibrahim

FYI, the blockage problem, which has been reported multiple times for several years, is deeper than the catch basin and not related to a rainblocker. The problem is fourfold at this corner: 1. The drain at 1428 E. 57th is clogged, at a level deeper than the cleaning has ever provided, for many years. 2. The drain at 5640 S Blackstone near the St. Stephens Church is a foot into the street past the gutter, meaning much of the 5600 Blackstone block drains to the corner. 3. The 1428 E 57th st drain collects the full 57th st block's drainage. 4. The recent-ish ADA ramps unfortunately exacerbate the width of the collected water, making it harder to cross.

I appreciate the city looking into the deep clog. That would certainly solve a lot of the mis-design here. I'd think I'd also look at how a department considers a service request resolved or closed when the problem is still there. Having Water Management vacuum the immediate catch basin and drain does not mean the problem is fixed, and that's how they've been responding to this problem for years.

dean: Thank you for your contribution to the resolution of this longstanding problem.

I appreciate your commentary Dean and I will have the Water Department look into the root cause and will share with them the timeline and brief history you shared.

This has been a recurrent issue for the past 7 years.

Thank you Ibrahim and the 5th Ward office, for examining and looking into the issue.

This has been a problem for years! My kids have to walk on the street to make it to the other side.

This problem is really serious and I hope something can be done about it. There was a photo of this large puddle online, I think in a series of Tribune photos on weather-related problems. But obviously this puddle is a long-going problem, not just due to recent weather.

That corner is on the way of hundreds of Metra commuters and visitors going to Ray School, Lab School, and the University. We need to stop putting them at risk even right it's icy, rainy, snowy. Thank you.

It would be nice to have it fixed, the street is sloped poorly and people don't clear leaves form drains.

This has been festering for years. In the summer the water becomes rank with decaying leaves and garbage.

Today is it not possible to cross the street at this location due to the deep, standing water. Pedestrians must walk in the street. Here is a picture of the typical condition of this corner, and it speaks for itself. Thanks to all for the community support. Thanks to the 5th Ward office for pledging to solve this problem.

Alexander E.Sharp

This problem is severe, and the fact that it has been allowed to continue and worsen over many years, is a travesty. The neighborhood name for this problem -- "Lake Blackstone" -- is accurate. Accumulated water means one cannot get across the street without navigating several feet of water for almost half a block. It makes Chicago look like we are a "third-world country."

Issue Closed

We will see when the next rain/snow comes if it drains. Please keep an eye on this corner. It is heavily traveled and across from a few business. Thank you for your initial help with this problem.

Your request has been accepted. Your service request ID is http://servicetracker.cityofchicago.org/requests/5328b8ab01636ab884c244a7

This is listed as "pothole in street," which isn't the problem. The problem is drainage.

Issue Closed

This drainage problem HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. EVERYONE WHO LIVES ANYWHERE NEAR THIS CORNER KNOWS IT.

Your request has been accepted. Your service request ID is http://servicetracker.cityofchicago.org/requests/53447ad80163bc596ca89eda

I will request for the Water Department to submit a statement of their findings upon investigation to our office. When the cause is found I will report back and coordinate with the city agencies to have it addressed

Closed? Why? Nothing has been done to fix the problem. When it rained last week, the corner again turned into an impassable puddle 4" deep and a dozen feet wide; folks were again diverted into the street. The next times it rains, Lake Blackstone will return. The drains need to be cleaned/fixed. Until then, this will remain a public eyesore and a community embarrassment.

I understand your frustration, the 5th Ward Service Office has been in contact with Water Management. Our office has requested that Water Management do a thorough investigation of the sewer system and the catch basins on 57th/Blackstone and report their findings back to our office. Once a root cause is determined we will continue to work with Water Management to find a solution and create a timeline to have it rectified.

If there are any additional questions please feel free to contact the 5th Ward Service Office at (773)324-5555

Ibrahim, Thank you. I am sure that we all appreciate your efforts to address this long-standing problem. But you are correct that many of us are frustrated. I want to say that I know personally a young woman who suffered a broken ankle at this location. It is a hazard, not merely a nuisance and eyesore.

"Lake Blackstone" is back -- the corner is once again flooded. The recent attempt to vacuum out the catch basin had no visible effect. I had hopes that some real action would be taken this past weekend when a four day parking ban was posted around the catch basin, but the only visible change was the appearance of a couple of orange cones and a slightly deeper puddle.

I have contacted the water department and there is still an open ticket for this issue.The first issue that was discovered was clogged catch basins, since that work has been performed and the issue persist, an underground inspection has been requested. I will continue to monitor the issue there.

-Ibrahim
Assistant to Alderman Hairston (5th Ward)

Ibrahim, as before, thank you for your commitment to this issue and for communicating what's happening. It is greatly appreciated.

I have great news! Starting tomorrow Friday, May 2, 2014. The Department of Water will perform sewer work on S. Blackstone Ave from E.58th St to E.59th St. The scope of work includes:

1. Catch basins will be cleaned and the pipes connecting the main sewer will be lined.
2. Catch basins and sewer manhole structures will be lined
3. Main sewer will be cleaned and televised
4. After the main sewer is lined, house drain services will proceed and must be completed to relieve
the drains
5. Main Sewer will be lined
6. The lined sewer will be televised to ensure that work was done properly.

I will have a complete letter available from the Water Department for those who did not receive a copy. Feel free to call 773-324-5555 or email me at fifthwardserviceoffice@gmail.com

-Ibrahim
Assistant to Alderman Hairston (5th Ward)

Unfortunately there is water again. There probably needs to be another drain put near the corner. Since this street was resurfaced in the past two years will that be possible to do? Please let us know if action can and will take place. Thank you for your help.
Elaine Smith

Ibrahim, the problem we have been discussing is at 57th Street. It it not easy for me to understand how work done between 58th and 59th will have any effect on the problem at 57th Street.

If the city could or, would, find a suitable way to clean up and take away the majority of the leaves that accumulate on the street curbs, and, if the residents would do their fair share of cleaning up accumulated leaves on their portions of the street curbs, as I have seen many homeowners in other city wards do, much of this accumulated water would be able to drain down to the sewer drains. I realize that the problems discussed here focus on the deep drain issues pointed out by Dean and others, but a few people above also mentioned "festering leaves," and so I thought I would add my comment about leaves. And they are a problem, especially here in Hyde Park where many folks will rake their front lawns and grassy strips, but will not pick up leaves in their immediate portion of the street curbs. Street cleaning vehicles pick up only so many leaves, and the sad thing is that we have leaves accumulated over more than one season's worth.

I understand all the concerns mentioned above. Elaine, I spoke with the Department of Water this morning and we are referring this issue to CDOT to have that corner re-graded so that water flows effectively to the existing drain. Steve, the sewers are all connected and this will improve the drainage in the area and is a component in solving the overall issue. Rudolph, I agree that accumulating leaves do contribute to flooding curbside and I will mention it in our next eblast (not the one going out today. If there are any concerns in the future,please feel free to give me a call at the 5th Ward Service Office @ 773-324-5555

-Ibrahim

Thank you for your attention to this matter. It is very appreciated.

2014-05-09 1PM

2014-06-23

"Acknowledged" 4 months ago and still no improvement. What's up?

CDOT has been contacted and we are awaiting a definitive date for this project. When a date is received it will be communicated to all. I was at that location last week and again today and took similar pictures. We hope to have this issue corrected soon.

-Ibrahim
Alderman's Assistant 5th Ward

I agree. The backup of water at that corner of 57th and S. Blackstone is considerable and persistent.

Thank you, Ibrahim, for your previous response regarding my concern over accumulated leaves in the streets.

Another concern of mine is the considerable potholes dotting East 56th Street between Harper Ave. and Lake Park Avenue, and again, the potholes under the 56th street viaduct going eastbound. I also wish to thank the 5th Ward and Streets and Sanitation for filling in the potholes on east 54th street between S. Hyde Park Blvd. and S. South Shore Drive. This was completed around six or so weeks ago. I hope the fill-ins last a good while!

Thank you Mr. Gardner for bringing this to the attention of the office. A service request for the 56th Harper and Lake Park potholes has been added to an existing request. Lanita Ross, Staff Assistant to the 5th Ward

You're welcome, Lanita, and thank you for acknowledging my submission for the potholes on East 56th street. Rudolph Gartner

This has been a persistent problem since (and maybe before) before Blackstone was repaved in the 90s - the pitch to the storm drain in front of St. Stephens from the corner is inadequate.

Good evening ND, the commissioner from The Department of Water anticipates work starting on 57th/ Blackstone in approximately 2 weeks, unless the weather conditions dictate otherwise.

Issue Closed

Thanks for fixing this issue!

Thank you and to Good Neighbors for calling this to your attention.

Thanks for fixing this issue!