WASHINGTON — Peter Orvetti told WUSA9 that he and several of his neighbors have been warning the city about a hazardous tree in their Columbia Heights neighborhood.
“I told them this is going to hurt someone," Orvetti said. "This is a mess. Luckily, it didn’t hurt anyone, but this could have been worse for a lot of people.”
The massive tree sits two doors down from Orvetti's home. On Wednesday night, high winds knocked it down, damaging three homes. Orvetti said it’s not the first time it has happened.
“Three years ago a branch came down, hit the house, three years before that a branch hit our car,” He said.
Orvetti’s backyard is covered in debris. His porch was blocked by branches that nearly missed his kitchen.
Since the tree is on private property, Orvetti said the city told him they were not responsible. Orvetti told WUSA9 he reported the tree to several District agencies but nothing was done.
“A lot of passing the buck about which agency is supposed to take care of it. The landlord I’ve never met. It’s a tenant property, mostly students so I don’t know who owns it.” Orvetti said.
WUSA9 reached out to the District to see why the tree was never removed, despite several requests. The District said it was looking into it.
Orvetti told WUSA9, that Urban Forestry DC is scheduled to get the tree removed, no word on when exactly that will be.
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