Case Date:

5/22/2025

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

Case Date:

3/17/2023

I own the property located at 1005 N. Jackson St, 47404. Shortly after purchasing the property the house next door burned down. We felt very fortunate that our house was not damaged. The house was demolished, however, shortly after demolishing the house someone has set up a tent on the lot and multiple people have been seen using the tent. There is trash surrounding the tent. Though we have not seen a fire there is what appears to be a makeshift fire pit. We use this property as a short term rental and it has the proper permits. I am personally concerned about the safety of my wife who spends some of her days working on improvements within the property. Obviously concerned about the impact on our ability to rent the home with the above described situation. I'm not sure what can be done but after reviewing the code it does not seem like this fits the intended use of the property. I am also empathetic to the rise of homelessness in our community, but this is a residential neighborhood and for the safety of all community members something should be done. We dodged a serious issue when the house burnt down and worry we may not be so lucky if something happens again. Thanks for your attention to this matter, please reach out with any questions. Hoping this could be resolved amicably, not trying to get anyone in trouble.

Case Date:

9/3/2022

The rear retaining wall of 705 w 13th Street is a hazard as it is soon to fall like the other piece of retaining wall that fell off. Please address this hazard that is seen every day by us dog walkers using the public ROW in the alley. That large piece of limestone could fall any second and land on something or someone and it is unfair that property owners are not held accountable for maintaining their property. This rental property was inspected recently, and even with hazardous sidewalks on property as well as hazardous retaining walls, it was approved as safe for being a rental. Nope. It is not safe.

Case Date:

2/14/2018

717 North Maple Street - long abandoned and neglected house, glass in windows is now broken, making it easy for people to get in - possibility of it becoming a drug house (note: map address is wrong, couldn't get it exact)

Case Date:

5/24/2017

House and property presents unsafe conditions, including: 1) exterior paint chipping (hazardous to young children and pregnant women) 2) unstable stone wall along sidewalk 3) overgrown weeds 4) large tree overhanging neighboring house 5) deteriorating foundation 6) porch seems to be falling away from house 7) overgrown branches on electrical wire 8) deteriorating roof/shingles Example photo provided as attachment.