BIRMINGHAM - AL -
It all started with the April 27th storms. A massive tree was partially blown down by strong winds and more than a year later, the problem is still there.
Valine Thompson has been living in the Westend area for the past 11 years and says, "It angers me because it's been like this for awhile." Thompson lives two doors down from a home that's been vacant for a little over a year, but it's not the home that's the issue, it's the tree that looks as though it will collapse onto the sidewalk or street any given moment.
"I'm scared to walk by in case that something might fall or the house might just tumble down," says Thompson. Thompson says the tree has been this way since the April 27th storm in 2011 and says the tree is hazardous to children who walk down the sidewalk.
This eyesore has Thompson and other neighbors talking...
Resident Eula Taylor says, "It's bad to see s*** like this, and people don't give a d*** about us. I know other people see it, and they should report it, but they don't." Taylor called the city, but says nothing was done and they didn't give her any answer as to why.
ABC 33/40 got in contact with the city who says they're not allowed to do anything about it because the house is private property.
Don Lupo, the Director of Mayor's office citizens assistance says, "We notify the owners once we post the properties, it goes through a process and once it gets to the end of the process, and council condemns it and declares it as obnoxious weeds or whatever or in this case, dangerous property, then we can go by state law on to the property, clean up the property, demolish the house and take care of the situation."
Lupo says the city is doing the best it can to take care of the problems caused by the April 27th storms. He says in some cases, it's best to just start over. "I would say the best thing to do is tear them down and start over, I don't think these houses can be fixed," says Lupo.
Meantime, Thompson says she still wants this tree removed from the neighborhood, hoping children or even adults won't get hurt.
"My place is right and the next door neighbors place is right, they should be able to come and do just a little to make it look better," says Thompson.
If you have similar complaints in your neighborhood, your encouraged to get in contact with you city councilor.
