GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Two months after the water main break that flooded his home and others off of Allerton Avenue, Larry Gibbs is still paying to clean up the mess.
"It's traumatizing," said Gibbs. "So I just paid $5,000 to have all that stuff removed in the mold and stuff."
On top of the cost of clearing the black mold from his home, he's working to get estimates to fix, what he said, is his failing foundation.
Just recently, he found out he has water coming in from a new spot in his basement during heavy rains.
"What am I going to do?" asked Gibbs. "Just keep paying the restoration company to keep coming out, to keep killing black mold?"
Gibbs said he's contacted the city repeatedly, only to receive an email on July 15 that reads in part:
"Risk Management in consultation with Executive city leadership is continuing to review and evaluate claims."
On Friday, 13 ON YOUR SIDE reached out to the city for comment on communication with neighbors. A city spokesperson sent us this statement that said:
"The City has received 16 property damage claims. Those claims remain under review. The City has been in communication with the claimants throughout the process. Decisions will be communicated directly with each claimant."
Besides the email Gibbs said he got back from city leaders, he said he hasn't gotten anything on what the next steps are for him or others impacted.
"You can see these things and you're going to just sit there and watch," said Gibbs. "What are you sitting there watching, doing? What are you doing? Just watching people's houses deteriorate?"
One house down from his is Mary Thompson's house.
Thompson is still dealing with a sinkhole that formed on the side of her house, which Gibbs said has continued to grow.
He said he's still nervous about what the future looks like on Allerton Avenue.
"That sinkhole is getting wider," said Gibbs. "It's breaking apart from the outside, so it's getting wider and I don't know if the city can see the sinkhole. She sleeps on that side of the house."
