City crews clean up illegal trash dump at 45th & Lafayette

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - A neighborhood eyesore is no more, two months after 6 News first exposed the hazard.

In August, 6 On Your Side Investigates showed the mess at a vacant apartment building in the Walnut Hill neighborhood. Neighbors said it began to pile up after the massive storm on July 31.

On Friday, Oct. 4, crews working to clear the area cleaned up the site. Now, neighbors hope it stays that way.

In August, 6 On Your Side Investigates learned the apartment building is owned by a Colorado investment company. They never responded for comment.

One neighbor, Phil McKeone said the building has been a problem spot for the neighborhood for a while. He said he thinks it’s been an issue somewhere between 15 to 20 years.

“Hamilton Street School is one block over,” McKeone said. “Where in our city is it like this. You can’t walk to school because of the debris.”

When we first brought you this story, the city said it had to put the clean-up of the parking lot on the back burner because of a busy month after the storm.

Omaha’s Chief Field Inspectors said the city cleaned the site before, but had to leave a big red dumpster which filled back up.

“I’m hoping that somebody buys this building and renovates it and straightens it out,” McKeone said. I think a local owner would really help.”

Some good news for the neighbors: during the clean up, police took the dumpster away, and with it the trash, for good.

Copyright 2024 WOWT. All rights reserved.