May 20, 2025
Houston homeowner Juan Corrales didn’t ask for much — just that his driveway be repaired like the rest of his neighbors’ as part of a city-funded sidewalk replacement and accessibility project. Instead, Corrales says he got skipped entirely, his property turned into a dump site for construction debris and, worse – the city’s contractors were still paid.
“The porta potty smelled really bad,” Corrales told KPRC 2 News, describing the area in front of his unattended driveway.
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“There were animals everywhere, and then neighbors started stopping by and throwing trash because they saw more trash.”
Corrales complained to city hall, calling out what he says is a broken system that fails to hold contractors accountable — even when residents are left cleaning up the mess.
Skipped and dumped on, by the city
Houston’s Pedestrian Accessibility Review Program has been working to upgrade sidewalks and driveways across the city’s neighborhoods. The goal: improve accessibility for pedestrians and those with disabilities.
In theory, Corrales’ street should have been a beneficiary of that effort. Crews rolled in, broke ground and upgraded most of the driveways and walkways on his block. But somehow, when it came time for Corrales’ home, the work stopped. His driveway was never completed.
“The city started pouring all the driveways on both sides of the street,” Corrales said. “But they didn’t pour mine.”
Instead, after agreeing to let the contractor store heavy equipment on part of his property, he says the area in front of his driveway became a dumping ground for concrete chunks, dirt and refuse.
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To make matters worse, Corrales suspects the contractors got paid, even though the job on his property was never finished.
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He called, emailed and waited — but nothing changed
Frustrated, Corrales says he spent months trying to get answers. He documented everything: the state of his driveway, the construction debris and trash as it piled up. At one point, city crews did return and cleaned up some — but not all of the mess.
For Corrales, it’s not just about an unfinished driveway.
“They came back just to take stuff away. Not to fix anything,” Corrales said. “How does that make sense?”
Finally, the city told KPRC that cleanup and the actual repairs that his neighbors received would be completed by mid-May.
What you can do in your city
The city’s promise might bring some closure for Corrales, whose story highlights a common frustration for residents dealing with city projects: When things go wrong, it can be tough to get help, and even tougher to get accountability.
So what can you do if your property is damaged or neglected during city work?
1. Document everything
Take clear photos and video of the issue, including time stamps if possible. Keep records of any communication with city departments or contractors.
2. File a formal complaint
Most major U.S. cities, including Houston, have 311 systems or online portals where you can submit service requests. The 311 number service was first introduced in Baltimore in 2001 and has since been adopted by many large cities, including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and Washington, D.C. If you call 311, have your notes ready: Be specific and include all your documentation.
3. Follow up, repeatedly
It’s often not enough to file once. Call back, email and escalate to higher offices if needed, including your city council representative.
4. Ask about compensation
Cities may offer compensation or reimbursement for damage, but you often have to request it — and the bar is high. And, approval isn’t guaranteed.
5. Seek legal advice
If your property is seriously damaged or you believe fraud is involved, it may be worth consulting a lawyer or consumer advocacy group. It’s also worth checking whether the contractor was bonded or insured. If so, you may be able to pursue a claim through that route as well.
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Chris Clark is a Kansas City–based freelance journalist covering personal finance, housing and retirement. A former Associated Press editor and reporter, he writes plainspoken stories that help readers make smarter financial decisions.
