I’m curious: The Don Lorentz auto repair shop on Broadway, across from Paul’s Restaurant, is being remodeled, and several weeks ago they took down all their exterior trees. I thought we were trying to get more trees rather than having them cut down. Just wondering what’s going on there.
— Renee Shannon, Ridgefield
It’s a prominent downtown corner — the corner of Broadway and McLoughlin Boulevard — and the remodeling itself may distract from the fact that several sidewalk trees did come down there.
But never fear, Renee: The ones that came down were dead or unhealthy, and they’ll be replaced by even more trees that are better suited to the spot.
That’s according to Charles Ray, Vancouver’s urban forester, who said the entire plan was approved by his office. “Everything got permits,” he said.
Four trees came down, Ray said. There were two desert ash trees on the north sidewalk that had been “topped” — that is, subjected to given military-style crewcuts — and hadn’t survived. Also taken down were two mature oaks on the east side; the southerly one’s damaged root system was heaving the sidewalk in a way that couldn’t be repaired, Ray said, and the northerly one was showing signs of internal decay and disease.
So all four were removed. Replacing them will be five new trees that are better suited to sidewalk life: two oaks and three European hornbeams, Ray said.
“They are more upright and columnar and they shouldn’t damage the sidewalk,” he said. “That’s why we chose them.”
Ray said Vancouver’s urban forestry office received several calls on these particular trees from folks concerned about downtown’s tree canopy. Sharp eyes, tree lovers!
