Mayor Nutter inspecting flood-prone Eastwick during Hurricane Sandy’s rains

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter inspected conditions in Eastwick around 4 p.m. this afternoon, as bands of Hurricane Sandy hit the area.

The announcement from his office says Eastwick “has experienced flooding in prior storms.”

The administration, particularly the transportation and utilities and water departments, have been researching flooding and storm water management infrastructure in Eastwick recently at the request of city council.  A hearing on the subject was held earlier this month.

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The hearing came about as a result of other hearings related to Korman Residential’s proposal to build 722 apartments in Eastwick near the airport and John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge.

Water Department Commissioner Howard Neukrug said at the October hearing that Korman would be required to improve the runoff situation in order to go forward. Flooding related to overflow of Cobbs Creek needs a federal fix, he said – a berm that would keep water in the creek as it rises. The city and Army Corps of Engineers have begun talking about this possible solution.

Residents maintain that until the flooding situation is remedied, it would be a mistake to put more residents in the area.