Roanoke residents press council on paper‑alley tree hazards and Washington Park house safety

During the council’s public‑comment period, residents raised two safety concerns requiring staff follow‑up.

Barbara Reynolds said trees in an alley behind her house have fallen repeatedly since she moved to the property in 1987. She said she was later told the alley had been treated as a "paper alley" and thus the city was no longer responsible for maintenance; she said she received no notice that the property interest had changed and that the cost to remove trees would be prohibitive for a fixed‑income homeowner surrounded by rental properties. "I should not be responsible for trees that are not on my property," Reynolds said, adding she feared property damage or worse during storms and requested the city assume stewardship.

City Attorney and staff explained that some unpaved/unbuilt alleys are vacated through a legal process that transfers the city's interest to adjacent owners; that process generally involves notice, advertisement and a public hearing. Staff said they would record Reynolds’ address and research the parcel’s status and notify her of findings.

Sylvia King asked for expedited temporary protection for the Evans house roof near Washington Park and raised public‑safety concerns about the pool’s location close to a busy four‑lane road, asking what the city’s plan would be for crossings and supervision when the pool opens. Staff said they would inspect the property condition, coordinate with inspectors and return with an update at the next meeting regarding potential additional crossings or safety measures.

Both items were referred to city staff for investigation and follow‑up.