Can anything else be done to stop tree removal?

Cary Aronovitz, Florida Avenue resident, sent out this letter to residents and others today. Recently, Coconut Grove TreeWatch tried to stop the street scape project, which will entail removing many mature trees as part of the sidewalk renovation plan. The appeal was reversed by the HEP Board. Here is Cary's letter, he asked me to post it:

TREE DESTRUCTION - PERMIT 11-231

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

As many of you know, eleven fully mature live oak and mahogany trees on Florida Avenue are scheduled for removal. The destruction is one phase of a City of Miami Capital Improvement Program initiative. To my knowledge, a developer/landscape architect, hired an arborist and made a pitch to the City to have these trees removed. Justified by the hired arborist’s naked eye report, the City’s Capital Improvement Program decided that nine of the trees are diseased and should be replaced. Two of the trees subject to removal have the unfortunate fate of being situated near the new Villa Mayfair restaurant and will be torn down to create a valet parking stand for the restaurant. (In the photo above: Mayfair Hotel – live oak tree, front left, is one of eleven that will be removed for a newer sidewalk).

I do not pretend to be a botanist; however, my naked eye tells me this decision solely is driven by money. In short, the landscape architect will be paid, the new specialized sidewalk brick company will be paid, and the City politicians can brag about the money they’ve spent to revitalize downtown Coconut Grove. Most concerning about this “project” is that it appears all it takes is a hired arborist’s report that a tree is damaged and that is enough for the City to tear it down. All of this comes at the expense of the property owners, businesses, residents, and, of course, the tree lined streets that make Coconut Grove the jewel of South Florida.

If anyone else is interested, please email me at caryaron@gmail.com and we’ll meet as a group and decide what can be done. For more information please also check out TreeWatch Coconut Grove on Facebook, an activist group vehemently opposed to this project.

Finally, please vocalize your protest to City Commissioner Mark Sarnoff (msarnoff@miamigov.com), and the project managers Elia Nunez (elianunez@miamigov.com) and Albert Sosa (asosa@miamigov.com).

Sincerely,
Cary Aronovitz
Coconut Grove