Standing water in the area of Cuyahoga Street and Sackett Hills Drive in Akron is causing problems not only for commuters, but for the family who has owned the property for generations.
Ann Marie Patterson, who lives on the corner of Cuyahoga and Honeywell says the drainage problem is an obvious one for drivers in the area.
"Safety is major concern," she said.
"This is not only for the people that drive to and from their homes here, but also those who don't know the area as well."
Ann Marie says in order to raise awareness of the problem, she has called 311 to get someone out to look at the flooding.
THE PATTERSON FAMILY by Akron NewsNow
City officials say they recognize the flooding problem in the Cuyahoga Street/ Sackett Hills area, as well as other trouble spots where flooding can occur.
Deputy Service Director John Valle says this problem is a pricey one.
"We don't have storm sewers in the area, and this is one of several problem areas we have in the City of Akron, and it would cost us $1.8 to 2 million dollars to fix," he said.
Valle says there's been money in the city's capital budget for some design, but there simply is no money to install storm sewers in the area.
Ann Marie's mother Janice Patterson says the storm water eroded several inches of ground asphalt they purchased and installed at the corner of Honeywell Drive and Cuyahoga Street last year to abate the affect of water that flows into Honeywell Dr.
The uneven surface is deep enough to affect vehicles entering and leaving.
Janice says at least 3 times in the last month runoff has filled the street, as well as flooded part of her mother's front yard.
I don't think there's any place in any city where conditions like this exist," she said.
"All that has to be done finding the source of it, making an adjustment there and dig out these culverts and letting the water pass by."
She tells AkronNewsNow.com In 2006, the city conducted an investigation into the storm water problems, cleaning out a drain and culvert area, and held a neighborhood meeting.
Valle says he's familiar with the land, saying in order to eliminate the collection of water, the property would have to be re-graded.
"Their property has always been in a low-lying area and if you look at the house , it sits higher while the front yard is much lower, so when rainfall comes down the hill , it will collect at its lowest point."
The property belonging to 91-year-old Lois Miller has been in her family for decades. One of her granddaughters says the flooding isn't just a problem for drivers.
"Our biggest concern is this our family's home, my grandmother's showplace, and this means a lot to us and this could be a safety hazard for our family as well."
Valle says the city is doing its best to cooperate with the family to get this problem resolved.
"We're trying to work as closely as possible with the property owner and it's difficult when you don't have the finances to make the necessary repairs," he explained.
"Until that happens this problem will not go away."
