When you live in a city that was once known as The City of Trees, you shouldn't feel bad when someone calls you a tree hugger. It can be tough to watch concrete being poured over tree beds, or a crew of hacks taking down branches on your street. Then again, you can't you can't save every tree. Sometimes you have to let some trees go in the name of progress. The frustrating part is not knowing - the times when you find yourself scratching your head and wondering why a tree-lined street was mowed down. In a perfect world (or even a far-from-perfect world) Buffalo would have a City forester to call to ask if the tree removals are necessary (or even legal). That's why I find it so interesting that more and more emails are coming through from readers asking about specific tree removals - I can empathize, mainly because I know the 'pit in the stomach' feeling that follows after watching a crew lay waste to a block of trees. Was it necessary? Yes, no, maybe... Here are two recent tree-be-gone cases that we have been alerted to. The first one is really painful to see. The second one was sent by multiple readers along with photos. Here they are:
Porter
Given your recent street tree post, I thought you'd be interested (outraged?) by this. I ran past the Porter Ave. reconstruction from Niagara St to the river on Monday morning and was upset to see that the mature tree in front of School 3 had been removed. I was at least a little relieved that, though the old sidewalks and curbs between Centennial Pool and the river had already been torn out, the trees still stood in front of the Pumping Station. Not so this morning. The six mature trees along that stretch have been cut down, and the only remaining tree on that side of the street has the orange "X" of death on it. Not sure why this is the case, but in any event it was really, really depressing to see. - AA
Tri-Main
If you want to cry, stop by behind the Tri-Main building and see the dozen+ trees the gas company mowed down "in anticipation" of needing access to fix a gas line (see below). It makes me sick. They are working there now, but the work holes that they have dug are in the street, not where they needed access between the sidewalk and street. - LD
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Porter
Given your recent street tree post, I thought you'd be interested (outraged?) by this. I ran past the Porter Ave. reconstruction from Niagara St to the river on Monday morning and was upset to see that the mature tree in front of School 3 had been removed. I was at least a little relieved that, though the old sidewalks and curbs between Centennial Pool and the river had already been torn out, the trees still stood in front of the Pumping Station. Not so this morning. The six mature trees along that stretch have been cut down, and the only remaining tree on that side of the street has the orange "X" of death on it. Not sure why this is the case, but in any event it was really, really depressing to see. - AA
Tri-Main
If you want to cry, stop by behind the Tri-Main building and see the dozen+ trees the gas company mowed down "in anticipation" of needing access to fix a gas line (see below). It makes me sick. They are working there now, but the work holes that they have dug are in the street, not where they needed access between the sidewalk and street. - LD
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Yeah, I saw this yesterday on Porter while biking down there. This sickens me. Counted 9 mature trees that had been cut from 190 to the lake. Is this really necessary? Who is in charge of this project?