open #192377
Other
1017 W Howe ST
- Case Date:
- 7/22/2024
I hope someone from the appropriate city department can help me with a tree issue on my neighbor's property that is endangering my home. Perhaps someone could contact them and request that they need to remove the tree or trim it. It is an investment property for them, which they do not live in, so they have not been keen on addressing it. I recently purchased this house at 1017 W Howe St. During the recent storms, one of the large silver maple trees at my other neighbor's property fell into my roof, destroying the back half of my home and causing extensive mold and flood damage. I am trying to address the issue with the trees now so this does not happen again to any of us. I only received half my claim amount from my insurance due to nonrecoverable depreciation and the deductible, which is only enough to replace the roof, though there has been extensive interior damage and flooding as well. Upon looking into the surrounding trees and contacting some folks about it, I have learned that my neighbors to the left of my house have been aware that their tree that is growing over my roof has extensive heart rot and is hazardous. The people who owned the home before them were landlords and were aware of the issue as well, but chose to sell the home when the tree destroyed their roof some years back, rather than cutting it down as needed, and it still hasn't been addressed. The people I purchased my home from said they had an arborist come do an examination and recommended that the tree needs to be removed, or at least trimmed back so it is not endangering my home should it fall, and it is likely to. I have also had multiple tree companies come do estimates for me regarding other tree work, given the damage that has occurred, as well as roofing contractors and chimney contractors. All of them say the tree is dangerous and needs to come down. I have included an image from the back of my home, and the tree in question here is the one on the right of the image.