Madison councilman wants to shut down ‘underground city’
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A Metro councilman wants to shut down a major storm water structure that runs under Gallatin Road. He says it doubles as a homeless hangout and attracts pan handling and other problems.
The city says they are aware of his demands, but blocking off a major storm water conduit is a bad idea.
From street level: you’d never know it was there, but go subterranean, past the signs, under the barb wire, through the cut chain link fence, and you will find a massive culvert that runs under Gallatin Road.
It’s here that Madison City Councilman Mike Craddock says a homeless problem exists.
“In the heart of Madison, we got a box culvert and we have people living here. It is like a city under there. They are hanging wash up on rocks.”
Messed up cameras don’t find evidence to that extent, but we do encounter ample grafitti, bottles, and evidence that people frequent this man made cave.
Messed up cameras encounter a man walking down the street who has seen people come and go from the culvert:
“Someone might go down there and drink a beer,” He says.
Winnie Williams owns this women’s clothing store that sits almost directly on top of the hidden culvert. “Those homeless people out here are killing business, always asking for favors,” she says.
Ms. Williams says if it would minimize pan handling near the store, she would eagerly embrace a grate at the entrances of the culvert.
“If they put up a gate, would that change where they come from and where they live and how you do business,” I ask.
“Yes, that would help.”
“What is your biggest fear?” I ask.
“My biggest Fear?” Craddock says. “The city doesn’t pay attention to details we got these little situations left undone and they grow and grow and grow they become bigger problems and them someone gets hurt.”‘
“So when councilman Craddock and the other councilman tell me that they have spoken to you, You did listen? It is just not a good plan?,” I ask Sonia Harvat who represents Metro Water Dept.
“We are listening. We can’t close that off. It would cause more hazardous issues.”
Metro Water Services says grates at the entrances would trap debris and potentially cause flooding where none currently exist.
“It is a social issue, maybe a neighborhood issue. It is something that our storm water is meant to flow and the last thing we want to do is possibly trap a homeless person in there that was asleep when it started raining that would be terrible,” Harvat adds.
“So why do I want to spend tax payer money to put up that grate when it is just homeless people down there,” I ask Craddock.
Craddock says: “If someone is hurt we are liable for that.”
Storm Water officials say this is a community problem, and a Police issue..
Metro Police confirm they actively patrol this location. They know of the panhandling complaints.
Though they say, homeless people are not responsible for the majority of crimes in the neighborhood.
