Detroit woman says her pleas to cut down dangerous tree have gone unheard by city

Detroit woman says city has ignored pleas over dangerous tree

She is scared to stay in her own home, not because of crimes in her east side Detroit neighborhood - but because of the huge tree in front of her house - that's not even hers.

DETROIT (FOX 2) - A Detroit homeowner says she is dealing with a serious safety issue after a tree fell in front of her house.

"The tree's going to fall, I'm going to be homeless - I'm just scared at this point," said Carolyn Bobo.

Bobo is scared to stay in her own east side home, not because of crimes in her east side Detroit neighborhood - but because of the huge tree in front of her house - that's not even hers.

"Especially the other night when the wind was blowing 70 miles an hour - I was bracing myself," she said.

Every time the wind blows - she worries.

"Thank goodness it didn't happen but there's more storms to come," she said. "I just want to be out of the line of fire - that's all."

But - she says, it's the city's tree and she's been calling the city's forestry department for the last five years.

"They told me I was on a list but couldn't tell me what number I was, on the list," Bobo said. "They kept telling me a supervisor was going to come out and talk with me. That never happened."

She says when the city finally did come out - workers only trimmed the limbs on the street side - not the ones hanging over her house.

"I asked them if they would cut the limbs hanging over my house they said no, I don't understand that," she said.

And it's not just the large tree and the limbs reaching over onto her second story porch - it's the damage the roots have caused as well - to her driveway and sidewalk.

"A person in a wheelchair, once they get here what are they going to do," she said. "All in all, I've spent close to $3,000 for repairs, for plumbing, because of this tree, and the roots."

After 26 years of living in her home - the lovely silver Maple that once provided shade - now provides only stress.

"I've been paying taxes - since I was 18 years old," she said. "Now I'm on a fixed income - I don't feel like at the age of 68 I should have to be dealing with this kind of stuff from the city that I helped take care of.

"This is why I don't sleep - this is why I have bags under my eyes, I'm worried sick. This tree has been the bane of my existence, simple as that."

FOX 2 contacted the City of Detroit and the Forestry Division responded right away.

FOX 2: "This thing is going to come down?"

"Absolutely - this week - it will happen," said Hector Santiago.

Santiago, a senior associate forester, says the tree - while healthy, is probably at least 80 years old - and is considered dangerous.

"It falls into the category of a dangerous tree because it's severely leaning toward the house - it's lifting the sidewalk where people can walk and trip," he said.

So it will be removed - a huge relief - for this worried homeowner.

"As long as we know she can sleep better at night - especially when a storm comes - we're happy we're able to help," he said. "And that's what we're here for."

The city also has a new dead, dangerous, and diseased tree removal program for private property. That number is 313-224-4444.