Flatbush neighbors cite 'tree-mendous' problem that they hope city will fix

A massive tree located at 50 Lenox Road is falling apart.

Valerie Ryan

May 23, 2025, 9:54 PM

Updated 3 hr ago

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Flatbush residents say its been a decadelong battle to get a deteriorating tree cut down.
A massive tree located at 50 Lenox Road is falling apart.
Residents say there appears to be rat burrows, deteriorating wood, in addition to the tree leaning and pulling up brick on a neighboring property.
Elia Monte-Brown, a resident of 70 Lenox Road, the neighboring building, says she's afraid of what will happen if the tree is not removed, but the building's owner has not shared the same urgency.
"Our building management has reached out to the owners next door to their management and have never gotten a response in over 10 years," said Monte-Brown.
People tell News 12 they filed numerous 311 complaints and reached out to local officials but because this is not city property it's the building's owner responsibility.
News 12 spoke with the buildings super over the phone who says the owner is working to get a permit to take down the tree, but the buildings management company did not answer to confirm this information.
Monte-Brown hopes the city can push for action before someone gets hurt.