Elderly Chicago resident seeks help after city tree damages her home
CHICAGO (WGN) – Velva Cox has lived in her South Side home for 50 years.
At one time, her block on South Honore Avenue was filled with mature trees.
'I thought that was so pretty,' Cox said. 'That's why I wanted this house.'
The block has seen a lot of changes over the years and many of those trees are now gone.
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However, the large, mature ash in front of the 79-year-old's home still remains.
'I like the tree because of the shade,' Cox said.
That shade has a downside, too. One of the tree's branches now sits just inches above Cox's roof line, scraping against the shingles and apparently causing damage.
'The shingles is coming up on it and there's holes in my roof,' she said.
In recent years, Cox asked the city to trim the tree, but said she was told it wasn't possible and she couldn't afford to pay to trim the tree, which is located on city property.
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In need of assistance, Cox contacted WGN Investigates.
Less than a day after we notified the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation, city crews came out and trimmed Cox's tree, as well as others on the block.
'There were multiple trees on the block that you could probably tell hadn't been trimmed in 15 years,' said the department's James Sheehan.
Last year, WGN Investigates reported how the city changed the way it trimmed its trees, moving to a grid system rather than responding to resident complaints.
SEE ALSO: Homeowner waits years for City of Chicago tree trim service
City officials have acknowledged that some trees in need of maintenance may have gotten overlooked, but said the process has become more efficient under the new system, resulting in more trees being trimmed in more neighborhoods.
'We trimmed over 180,000 trees…a 200% increase, but there are definitely some that slip through the cracks,' Sheehan said.
Officials said residents with trees that need trimming but are not in imminent danger of injuring people or property should call their alderman's office or email StreetsandSan@cityofchicago.org
Interviewed after the branch was removed, Cox said she was just thankful the work was finally done.
Illinois pays $1.3M for unopened migrant shelter despite Pritzker pledge
'Thank you, Jesus, it's over,' she said.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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