A Tree Grows in The Bronx..and Grows and Grows

A woman in the Bronx has a tree between her sidewalk and the street. The roots from the tree are pushing the sidewalk up. It's causing a hazard. Should she have to pay to get that fixed? It's not even her tree.

So what if a tree planted by the city has roots that are busting up the sidewalk in front of your property? Should you be responsible for fixing the sidewalk? And what if someone trips and gets hurt? And what if you didn't even want the tree there in the first place?

It might not seem like a big problem to some people but Nellie Price of the Bronx is worried sick. She's been getting violations and faces tough sanctions. The city might even place a lien on her property if she doesn't get this cleared up.

"Oh yes, yes, I'm in serious trouble," said Nellie. Nellie Price knows it's up to her to take care of her property. She lived here for 35 years with her husband and his mother. When they passed, she moved across town and put the house up for sale. But she's still paying for the upkeep.

"Yes, yes, sewage. Anything that happens," she said, "they call me. And the taxes," she continued, "I just got a bill for the taxes for one year so I'm like paying at two places."

It's this tree and the roots pulling up the sidewalk in front of their homes that's got her and her neighbors so upset. That and the violations they're getting over it. Janet Logan is one of those neighbors.

"The city planted the tree on the sidewalk," said Janet. "That's not my tree. I didn't ask to have a tree planted here," she said. "It's grown into a problem. I don't know what's going to be done but I don't have money to repair no sidewalk or I don't have money to keep paying tickets for something that's not my fault."

This neighbor tripped and got hurt: "I was coming along," said Victor. "I looked back because I thought someone was following me and then I stepped forward and I fell," he said. "My ankle is still hurting me a bit. It's dangerous for the kids also, any kid could fall and hit their head."

Nellie is well aware of the danger and worries what could happen. Clearly the roots pushing up is the biggest problem but besides that, the tree is a nuisance. "Year round it sheds and it's so much work for years," she said. "I never knew a tree shed year round. Even when it's brown it's still shedding. I would love for the tree to be cut down and the neighbors too, it's a shame to say but it's true, lots of problems."

So what do they do?

We reached out to the Parks Department. They don't issue the violations, that's the Department of Transportation. But they will take care of what they call a "street tree"..one like Nellie's that's planted between a sidewalk and the street in front of your property.

What you have to do first is call 311. Request a "tree and sidewalk inspection". Get a reference number while you're on the phone with them. A forester will come investigate. The forester will rate the hazard involved. A high rating will get priority.

"I want this fixed," said Nellie. "I want this over with."

The Parks Department does have money in their budget to fix the problem, including the sidewalk. Nellie's tree should rate a high priority which means it should get addressed right away. Nellie will be able to track their progress by using her reference number.