Change of plans for trees on Florida Avenue?

Cary Aronovitz, member of TreeWatch and resident of Florida Avenue, has been quite concerned about the trees on Florida Avenue slated for removal or replacement as part of the BID's street scape project to replace sidewalks and apparently take down lots of trees in the process.

At Thursday's Village Council meeting, Cary brought a study done by the City, which claims that many of the trees were ready to keel over and die but shows no proof in most cases. Cary claims there was no soil testing done and no root testing and the report done in October 2010, claims that so many of the 30 and 40 foot tall trees are in danger of dying and falling over, yet all this time later, they are as healthy as can be.

Liliana Dones, chair of TreeWatch also brought up the issue with the trees on SW 27 Avenue, that are being removed as part of that project. Many are being replanted, yet they are said to be dying or dangerous and must be removed. Her observation was that if they are so dangerous and dying, why are they being replanted? And this is the case with the Florida Avenue trees. If they are in such bad shape, why would they be in better shape if moved?

One interesting development, according to David Collins of the BID, is that the Tamarind tree on Florida Avenue is probably going to be saved. That's the tree to the far left in the photo above. The tree on Florida and Mary was deemed dangerous and dying, but after another look by arborists, it is now apparently ok to stay where it is. As for blocking the sidewalk, which previously was deemed as being a problem, the ADA folks said that as long as the other side of the street is wide enough for people to pass, the tree can stay where it is.

Now all the trees on Florida Avenue are being revisited. We have a suspicion that with all the hoopla and anger over the trees being removed, that the City and the BID are having second thoughts. One man stormed out of the Village Council meeting yelling at David Collins, who is on the Council board, that he should leave the trees alone and that he notices that all the trees are safe from destruction on the street where David lives. When you think about it, if the same criteria is used on every tree in the Grove (or the world for that matter), that is being used for the City's report, most trees would be removed.

The TreeWatch, save the trees petition is here if you would like to sign it.