Growing sinkhole raises concern in University City neighborhood

 

University City Residents Fear Growing Sinkhole

As heavy rainfall threatens to worsen the situation, residents of University City are growing increasingly concerned about a massive sinkhole that has been expanding near their homes. The sinkhole, caused by deteriorating metal pipes, has been a problem for nearly a year, but its recent expansion has brought the issue to a boiling point.

• The sinkhole has been steadily growing since its formation in March 2024, with the latest rainfall causing it to nearly swallow the fence put up to protect pedestrians.
• Residents, including Drew Pinsky, who has lived next to the sinkhole since its formation, have been warning about the dangers of the situation for months, citing concerns about the potential for more damage and the risks of accidents.
• The city has estimated that repairs will cost $2 million and will begin once the rain passes, but the slow response and lack of progress have left residents feeling frustrated and scared for their safety. This seems typical of the City's approach to maintenance - don't fix problems when they are small, wait for them to grow too big to ignore, when they'll cost millions to repari.

Growing Sinkhole Threatens Homes in University City as Residents Demand Action

By Claude Reporter
March 15, 2025

UNIVERSITY CITY, SAN DIEGO — What began as a small depression in the ground has evolved into a major hazard for residents of the University City neighborhood, where a massive sinkhole continues to expand with each rainfall, threatening nearby homes and disrupting access to popular trails.

The sinkhole, located near Syracuse Avenue adjacent to Marian Bear Memorial Park, has grown large enough to swallow an SUV, according to local resident Jason Nielsen, who has been documenting its alarming progression since March 2024.

"My house is only about 30 yards from here and I worry about the hillside just collapsing in and getting worse," Nielsen told reporters. "I don't see it getting any better, especially as rainy season continues."

City officials have attributed the formation to "deteriorating metal pipes underground that need to be replaced." Despite being evaluated and placed on an emergency project list in early April 2024, nearly a year has passed with minimal action, frustrating area residents who fear for their safety and property.

The City of San Diego estimates repairs will cost approximately $2 million. Work was reportedly scheduled to begin this week but has been further delayed by recent storms. Officials now state that permanent repairs will commence once the rainy weather subsides.

In the meantime, the city has cordoned off the affected area with chain link fences, warning signs, and caution tape. However, the latest rainfall has reportedly caused the sinkhole to expand further, nearly engulfing the protective barriers themselves.

Drew Pinsky, another resident living near the hazard, expressed growing concerns about the slow response. "We've been warning about this for months," Pinsky said. "Every day that passes without action puts our homes and safety at greater risk."

The situation has also disrupted recreational activities, as the affected area previously served as a popular trail for mountain bikers and hikers accessing Marian Bear Memorial Park.

Councilmember Kent Lee, who represents the University City area, has reportedly been in communication with residents, though many feel the issue deserves more urgent attention given its rapid deterioration.

As residents await action, Nielsen continues documenting the sinkhole's growth, hoping his photographic evidence will spur officials to expedite repairs before further damage occurs to the surrounding landscape and properties.

Summary

It sounds like residents in the University City neighborhood of San Diego are facing a concerning situation with a growing sinkhole. Here are the key points:

1. The sinkhole began forming in March 2024, initially small at about 15 feet across, but has grown large enough to fit an SUV.

2. It's located near a canyon trail that people use to access Marian Bear Memorial Park, with Jason Nielsen's home only about 30 yards away.

3. The cause has been identified as "deteriorating metal pipes underground that need to be replaced."

4. The City of San Diego evaluated the site in April 2024 and placed it on an emergency project list, but repairs have been delayed by recent rain.

5. Repairs are estimated to cost $2 million and are scheduled to begin once the rain stops.

6. Residents like Nielsen have been documenting the growth of the sinkhole and expressing concerns about potential hillside collapse, especially with continued rainfall.

7. The city has taken temporary safety measures by blocking off the area with chain link fences, cones, warning signs, and caution tape.

The situation highlights infrastructure challenges that can arise from aging underground systems, particularly when exposed to environmental factors like heavy rainfall.

Growing sinkhole raises concern in University City neighborhood – NBC 7 San Diego

nbcsandiego.com

Dana Williams

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The City of San Diego told NBC 7 in a statement the sinkhole formed because of "deteriorating metal pipes."

A sign placed at the top of the canyon where the sinkhole has formed. Mar. 13, 2025.

It’s been nearly one year since Jason Nielsen first noticed a small sinkhole in a canyon next to his house in University City. The hole started relatively small, about 15 feet across, on top of a mountain biking and walking trail that he says people use to access Marian Bear Memorial Park. 

“My own family, we hike down here often, so that’s a disappointment,” Nielsen told NBC 7. He has documented the progress of the sinkhole over the past 12 months and said he has had repeated conversations with the City of San Diego and Councilmember Kent Lee, who represents the area, to get it fixed. 

When the sinkhole first started to grow, captured by Jason Nielsen who lives nearby.

“It’s going to keep getting bigger and bigger,” he said. “My house is only about 30 yards from here and I worry about the hillside just collapsing in and getting worse. I don't see it getting any better, especially as rainy season comes.” 

The sinkhole is now large enough for an SUV to fit into and city crews have blocked off the entire canyon area with chain link fences, cones, warning signs and caution tape. A spokesperson for the City of San Diego shared a statement with NBC 7 that “the sinkhole on Syracuse Avenue is the result of deteriorating metal pipes underground that need to be replaced.” The statement explained “the site was evaluated in early April 2024 and placed on the emergency project list for repairs and funding.” 

They added that work was scheduled to begin to make repairs this week, “but the rain delayed the work.” Now, they plan to take action on a permanent solution when the rain stops.

In the meantime, Nielsen said, he is just left to wait and hope it doesn’t expand into anything worse.