neighbor's tree-HELP!!!

That is sad but sometimes necessary. Take all that wonderful empathy you have and get her number or even better her email (don’t give her yours) and just check on her from time to time. Be supportive of the daughter but stay in yo lane. People’s mental health seems more fragile and than ever and lending an ear may lead to them taking your whole head. Hope your tree thing works out but even better tell her you’ll do it if she go’s half-sies. This way you control the process but keep her in the loop.

BKALLDAY

in General Discussion 3 years and 7 months ago

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lwxrlomtdspfi | 3 years and 8 months ago

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I have a doozy of a tree problem. The next door neighbors do not keep up the property at all. Three years ago a birch taller than their three-story roof in back was blown over in a storm, (our tree removal guy said dead roots), damaging five back yards. It was deemed an “act of God” by our insurer. In any case, in the front, they have let elms just seed and reseed. The woman who primarily lives there–I think her sister owns the house and lives in Florida ?–is a paranoid schizophrenic who calls the police several times a week and is frequently hospitalized. She has a daughter, with whom I am on loosely good terms. SO, the largest of the elms, which obviously was not deliberately planted, is right against our stoop, and has already dislodged a step. It’s getting worse and worse. I sent the woman–or whoever owns the place (they have the same name)–a letter offering to take the tree down at my own expense. I sent her a registered letter, which was returned. I asked the daughter in person, and she told me she had to consider “the value of the property.” Her “super” told m e they’re waiting for the woman to die before they can do anything!!! Believe me, this tree offers no value, is undermining my stoop, which will need to be rebuilt, and is a danger to the neighborhood because it could blow over. I have tremendous compassion for mental illness. I love trees! But I am absolutely at a loss as to what to do in this situation. They are old-time neighborhood tenants, and that also–I hate to make their lives harder. Should I have the stoop rebuilt around the tree, that will come down at some point? Do I call and report elder abuse? Do I call a lawyer? This whole situation is sad beyond belief. The thing is, the dislodged step is a hazard for my insurance. The woman is in a horrible state. The daughter can’t commit her against her will. AGH! Advice most appreciated.

RobertGMarvin

in General Discussion 3 years and 8 months ago

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I think you need a lawyer and probably should direct your efforts towards the actual owner of the house (and tree).

colonialrevival | 3 years and 8 months ago

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It sounds like the other party in this situation is far from having their ducks in a row, and has issues much larger than the trees. With that in mind, perhaps you record all your correspondence, go ahead and have the tree removed, and bet that nothing will come of it? I am merely a person on an internet forum, not a lawyer and this is certainly not law advice. If my neighbors actions or negligence were damaging my property, I wouldn’t hesitate to act, especially if they choose to dither in bad faith.

lwxrlomtdspfi | 3 years and 8 months ago

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Does anyone have the name of a lawyer who might handle this?

lwxrlomtdspfi | 3 years and 8 months ago

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Does anyone have the name of a lawyer who might handle this?

resident2 | 3 years and 8 months ago

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Any tree in the front of a house is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks. You should file a dangerous tree complaint with the city, if it is in fact dangerous to the public passing the property they should arrange for its removal. It takes a lot follow up, but eventually they will cut it down.
If you first get told that they cannot take trees down from private property, ask to speak to their supervisor.
Call your local community board and ask them to follow through.
In a separate call (because they get easily overwhelmed if you talk about too many issues in the same phone call..) Alert them to the elder abuse ; sadly this will probably take much more effort than dealing with the tree. Your City Council person may be a better bet for the elder abuse.

Arkady | 3 years and 7 months ago

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You have a hazardous condition & I agree w/ Res-2 you should act on it: Parks Dept. or even Sanitation, EPA or DOB.

dorkofwindsor | 3 years and 7 months ago

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I agree with resident 2 and Arkady, but I would probably call your local city council representative first, explain your situation. Offer to promptly follow-up with detailed, concise email with photos and history that might make it easy for them to pass around to the right people if necessary. Make it easy for them to help you.

BKALLDAY | 3 years and 7 months ago

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I must say, having empathy is a wonderful thing but you can’t feel worse for someone than you would for your own situation. Get an attorney to send letters to all parties and whatever mental health professional who may be assisting this family. Try to include a date and how the process for “curing” the issue on YOUR property will go and give them a start date for when the work will commence. Also file with the City (DoB, Parks, etc.) and cc them as well. Life is tough when we live in close proximity to each other. It’s made worse when others don’t have it in them to care about how their lives are affecting many others. Good luck.

lwxrlomtdspfi | 3 years and 7 months ago

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Well, this is coming to a weird conclusion. After 20 years of living next to this person, her daughter, who owns the place, just forcibly evicted her. Piles and piles of trash bags with hoarded stuff on the sidewalk. Daughter says she will remove tree. Elderly mother refused all help and wound up in an SRO, which is unbelievably sad. She’ll probably become homeless. She was not safe in the house because of the hoarding and she wouldn’t allow workmen in. We need a better system.

lwxrlomtdspfi | 3 years and 7 months ago

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Well, this is coming to a weird conclusion. After 20 years of living next to this person, her daughter, who owns the place, just forcibly evicted her. Piles and piles of trash bags with hoarded stuff on the sidewalk. Daughter says she will remove tree. Elderly mother refused all help and wound up in an SRO, which is unbelievably sad. She’ll probably become homeless. She was not safe in the house because of the hoarding and she wouldn’t allow workmen in. We need a better system.