Sewage Backup Cleanup in Birdtown, Lakewood
Birdtown is one of Lakewood's oldest and most densely built districts. That history affects how backups happen and how cleanup gets done.
About Birdtown
Birdtown, also called the Bird's Nest, is a National Register Historic District in Lakewood, listed in 2006. It runs from Madison Avenue on the north to the rapid transit tracks on the south, and from West 117th Street on the east to Madison Park on the west. The streets, including Thrush, Lark, Robin, Quail and Plover, are named for birds.
The neighborhood was laid out in the 1890s to house workers at the nearby National Carbon Company. The Lakewood Historical Society says a National Carbon subsidiary laid out more than 400 lots to attract workers, and many of the houses were built by the workers themselves.
Who lived here
According to the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, Birdtown was originally home to a large and diverse group of working-class immigrants from Eastern Europe, among them Slovaks, Carpatho-Rusyns, Poles and Ukrainians, who built a number of ethnic churches that are still part of the neighborhood. Many of the original houses were boarding houses.
Sources: Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, Lakewood Historical Society.
What that means for sewage backups
Small lots, close buildings
Lakewood's streets are tightly packed, with many homes on roughly a tenth of an acre, and Birdtown's cottages and duplexes fit that pattern. Cleanup often takes place close to neighboring buildings, which affects access and how contamination is contained.
Older buildings, older lines
Housing from around the turn of the twentieth century may have older sewer connections. That doesn't mean a problem exists. It means a camera inspection is the reliable way to know after a backup, rather than assuming.
Two-family and shared buildings
Birdtown includes duplexes and worker housing that has been converted over time. A backup in a shared building can involve more than one household; see rental and multi-unit cleanup.
Common service needs here
- Basement sewage backup cleanup in small, older basements with limited working room
- Camera inspection and sewer line repair for older laterals
- Multi-unit cleanup for duplexes and apartment buildings
- Drying of damp basements, since older masonry can hold moisture
Who is responsible
The City of Lakewood maintains sewer components in the public right-of-way, and owners maintain private-property components. In a district of closely spaced lots, the private line may be short, but the same rule applies. See the responsibility guide for how to tell where a backup started.
Nearby
Downtown Lakewood is west along Detroit Avenue. Areas east of West 117th Street are in the City of Cleveland and aren't covered on this site. The service areas page lists the rest of Lakewood.
Common questions
Does living in a historic district change how cleanup is done?
The cleanup itself works the same way. If you're planning exterior or structural repairs afterward, ask the City of Lakewood whether any local requirements apply to your address.
Are Birdtown homes more likely to have backups?
We don't have data to say so. Age and density simply make it more useful to know the condition of your line.
Who do I tell if I rent a Birdtown duplex?
Tell your landlord right away, in writing if you can, and keep photos. See rental and multi-unit cleanup for the usual steps.
Can cleanup be done in a small cottage basement?
Yes. Tight space changes how equipment is set up, not whether the work can be done. Describe the space when you call.
Call about a Birdtown backup
Tell us your street, whether it's a single-family house or a duplex, and what's affected.