North Chesterfield woman says HOA ignored fallen tree for months

CHESTERFIELD, Va. (WWBT) - A North Chesterfield woman says her homeowners association ignored a fallen tree blocking her front door for months — until she contacted 12 On Your Side.

Tamara Allen has lived in a townhome off Provincetown Drive for 16 years.

She said she began raising concerns about a leaning tree on community property in September, fearing it would fall and damage her home.

When the tree eventually snapped, it did not hit the house — but it came down in her front yard, blocking the sidewalk and forcing her to walk through a neighbor’s yard to reach her own front door.

“This is the top of a tree at my front door,” Allen said.

Allen said she repeatedly contacted her HOA and property management company about the tree, but received little action.

“It’s been gradually coming down. Gradually coming. That’s why I’ve gotten so livid because it’s gradually coming and you’ve had plenty of time to get it repaired or get it fixed,” Allen said.

She said the HOA’s response was that the board did not believe the tree posed a threat to her home. Allen pushed back, arguing the obstruction raised accessibility concerns regardless.

“It’s still blocking the sidewalk. It looks like that should be something ADA compliant, that sidewalks have to be clear, even if it’s not going to hit my house,” Allen said.

Allen said she grew frustrated with what she described as ongoing delays and a lack of urgency from her property management.

“It’s exhausting to keep fighting for something that should be done. This is community property. It’s not on my land. It’s not on my property at all. If it was on my property, I’m sure they would have sent me something, giving me a timeframe to have it removed ASAP,” Allen said.

She said the situation changed after she mentioned in an email that a news crew would be coming out.

“As soon as I mentioned channel 12 would be out, I get an email — oh, we’re going to take care of it either Wednesday or Thursday. So it shouldn’t go to that,” Allen said.

The On Your Side Investigators also sent an email to the property management company requesting immediate attention to the matter.

The company did not respond by the requested deadline of Friday evening. Two days after Allen’s interview, on Thursday, crews arrived and removed the tree.

“The safety issue is gone. We can walk out. Clearly not tripping, not falling, not afraid of an animal or something up under there,” Allen said.

Allen said the removal also means her father, who uses the sidewalk due to a disability, can now visit again. The property management company had not responded to the station’s inquiry as of the time of this report.