By Paula Katinas
A powerful and pungent odor invaded the streets of Bay Ridge this afternoon, Aug. 21, as residents in at least three locations in the community held their noses in disgust.
The odor, which some described as a gasoline-type of smell and others said smelled like raw sewage, was first reported to Community Board 10’s office at around 3:30 p.m., according to Board 10 District Manager Josephine Beckmann.
“We have received numerous phone calls on it,” Beckmann told the Bay Ridge Eagle after a reporter called to report the foul smell.
Beckmann said the complaint calls came from residents in three locations – Fourth Avenue and 86th Street; 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue; and Third Avenue and 92nd Street.
The latter is the location of a sinkhole caused by a rupture in a sewer line that is currently being repaired by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.
At close of business today, the source of the odor had not yet been discovered. It’s not clear if the bad smell was connected to the sinkhole repairs, officials said.
“We called it into 911 because of all the calls we received on it,” said Beckmann. “The Fire Department will investigate.”
Beckmann said she did not know what was causing the odor.
“Sometimes it comes from the Narrows – a barge carrying oil,” she said.
The smell had Bay Ridgeites making funny faces. One man, exiting the Capital One Bank on 86th Street near Fourth Avenue, opened the door, took a breath and said, “Whoa!”
He immediately headed back inside the bank.
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