closed #202895
Excessive Growth
213 E Cottage Grove AVE
- Case Date:
- 5/23/2025
Many trees-of-heaven growing in backyard along the alley (east property line).
Many trees-of-heaven growing in backyard along the alley (east property line).
This has been reported previously, but somehow the girl they sent the last time (the one who relies on an "app") missed it. Japanese knotweed is growing on the south end of the lot behind the shack out back along the alley and is invading the adjacent property from the SW corner of the lot. Also, the attempt to remove the knotweed from the west side of the house has failed - it grew up immediately after being cut at the base. Of course, cutting knotweed only makes it spread. Assumption is that was clearly communicated to the property owner by HAND. Also, burdock is growing on the south half of the east side of the property.
NW corner of lot has Japanese knotweed and tree-of-heaven growing along the property line, providing privacy. Not clear if it is this address or 214 E. 11th or both, but given that HAND doesn't like these plants, they will need to be removed by someone.
Subject: Formal Complaint and Damage Notification – Fallen Tree Incident at the corner of 700 Ashlynn Park Dr. & 300 W. 11th St. Bloomington, IN near Upland Brewery. Dear City of Bloomington Officials, We (Katherine & Renas Van Lue) are writing to formally report an incident involving a hazardous tree that resulted in significant damage to our parked vehicle. The tree in question, located near the sidewalk and parking meter of 700 Ashlynn Park Dr. & 300 W. 11th St. Bloomington, IN ( near Upland Brewery )dropped a large bough on our car on the night of May 21,2025 at approximately 10:40pm. This location is marked by a clearly deteriorating and partially dead tree, which appears to have been neglected for a significant period. As seen in the attached daytime Google Maps Street View (screenshot dated 2025) and our personal photographs taken at the time of the incident as well as the next day during daylight hours, the tree shows clear signs of rot and structural instability. It is evident that this tree posed a danger to public safety and property, especially in an area with active parking meters and pedestrian traffic. The incident has resulted in physical damage to our vehicle, which was legally parked by the curb at a paid meter. A section of the tree broke off and landed directly on the front of our car, causing not only structural damage but also significant inconvenience and cost. Two witnesses were at the scene. This situation could have easily led to personal injury had someone been present near the vehicle at the time. Given the foreseeable and preventable nature of this hazard, we respectfully urge the City of Bloomington to: 1. Investigate the incident and confirm the ownership and maintenance responsibility of the tree in question. 2. Take immediate action to remove or professionally inspect the remaining portion of the tree to prevent further harm. 3. Reimburse or assist with damage-related expenses caused by the City’s negligence in maintaining public safety. safety. We would like to note that after the incident, we called police to report what had happened and police just said to contact our insurance instead. No police report was made. Our insurance company has been notified and a claim has been filed. We have not been given any estimates of the damage. We are awaiting for an adjuster to come and view the damage. Please let me know the next steps in initiating a formal claim for property damage and what further documentation may be required. We are reachable by phone at 812-617-5016 or 773-564-3266 and by email which is provided at the top of this letter. We would appreciate timely communication. Thank you for your attention to this serious safety matter. We hope the City takes swift and responsible action to prevent similar incidents in the future. Sincerely, Katherine and Renas Van Lue
Disgusting neglect
Car continues to sit here for weeks at a time unmoved
The board material that has been placed in front of the Princess Theatre during construction is warping and unsafe. An individual just fell all the way to the ground from tripping on the uneven surface at 1:45pm. The material also appears as if it would be very slick when wet. Very unsafe.
There is a cracked hole in this parking lot that goes very deep into the ground. This doesn’t look man made and may be a potential sinkhole as this is not a pothole. I don’t know the property maanager as I was just walking through the lot, but it does seem to need immediate attention.
Two sets of wires that are loose and not connected to anything. They are hanging on two parts of the fence in the back alley behind 15th Street behind 315 and 319. If they can be taken down that would be appreciated.