Bruce Avenue south of Glenwood Road in Glendale
Northwest Glendale residents received notice several days ago that sidewalk repairs scheduled for the area might include removing “dead or diseased trees.” Along Bruce Avenue in Northwest Glendale, residents home yesterday when crews showed up discovered Glendale Public Works had decided to remove ALL the trees lining the block that are impacting the sidewalks.
One was already gone when they realized what was happening and 18 large, mature shade trees, many of which contribute to a beautiful canopy over the street would also be gone today if not for the quick response of residents, who placed calls to the City Manager’s office, Glendale city council members, Public Works and Glendale’s Urban Forester.
Alert to all Glendale neighborhoods: ADA-mandated sidewalk repairs could result in losing beautiful mature tree shade and canopies along residential streets because of sidewalk repair protocol. Residents’ quick action along Bruce Avenue forced postponement of just this block’s work. Today several trees there are marked with a bright orange “NO” , and the city has agreed to remove only four identifiably dead trees.
Current city policy is that no notice needs to be provided to residents about tree removals. This policy deserves careful review from the city council.
New trees provided by the city will take decades to grow and replenish the shade and character of Glendale’s charming neighborhoods. These were planted on Glenwood at the corner of Bruce Avenue just last week.
Concerns about this issue should be directed to Public Works at (818) 548-3900 and the Glendale City Manager’s office at (818) 548-4844.
I was amazed and extremely disappointed upon hearing and seeing what Glendale was going to do to Bruce Avenue. One of the loveliest tree canopied streets in Glendale. If some trees were severely diseased there should have been a restrained plan for removal, over a very long period of time – years – before anything was cut to the ground. How could Glendale, which is known for lovely tree lined neighborhoods be so short sighted, so aesthetically vacant, so inconsiderate of their citizens that they would ‘destroy;’ a street in one day. That they would allow residents to leave a beautiful street in the morning and come home to a ‘clear cut’ neighborhood. It is short sighted and unconscionable! Really where are the heads of those in charge, think men, think! I have lived on Bruce for one year and the trees were a big part of my decision to move here. I will be one unhappy resident if this clear cut mentality robs this street of it’s beauty. Don’t Do This! Take your time, and I mean YEARS, for slow, careful and thoughtful removal of trees. This to maintain the character and beauty of all our streets and protect your citizens quality of life and maintain the Property Values of all of Glendale’s neighborhoods!!!!!
Sincerely.
Jeannie Cordner
So glad you brought attention to this. It is so important for neighbors to work together, act quickly and respectfully to ensure that their voices are heard. Mature shade trees, bring so much value to a home, street and city. Not just the shade and cooling properties, but the comfort and foundation of nature in our urban life, and the intrinsic beauty that affects the immediate perception some one has about a neighborhood. Mature trees tell us that a neighborhood has a history, that residents care, and they invite us to want to stay longer. They also provide homes and nesting grounds for our wildlife. Meeting and exceeding ADA requirements should not be treated merely as a checkbox requirement, it ensures most importantly that all people have equal access. However, indiscriminate removal of trees without notice or discussion or a thoughtful approach is a bit like throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Thanks go primarily to Doug and Deborah Johnson (Doug is a former board member of the Northwest Glendale Homeowners Association) who happened to be home at the time. They insisted on getting answers from the crew, stayed on the scene while other neighbors showed up, sent out emails to current association board members, and contacted everyone they could think of in the city offices.
Johnson asked the crew’s supervisor why the sidewalks could not be fixed or repaired without damaging the trees. The man he spoke with admitted that there likely was another, less drastic, solution that did not require cutting away so much of the trees roots to repour sections of sidewalk.
The issue isn’t settled yet, though, and this work is ongoing through the neighborhood and possibly elsewhere in the city. Johnson sent a message to city council members urging them to take up the issue. Send in comments and make sure the “charming tree-lined” description of Glendale’s streets continues to be true.
Thanks to everyone who supports saving the trees — we’ll need people to turn out for the neighborhood forum once it’s schedule. It’s definitely time for the city to consider less drastic means than killing a 60-year-old tree to fix a one-inch crack in the sidewalk!
Particular thanks to Mayor Friedman and the City Manager’s office for intervening. When Public Works insisted on cutting down at least 7 trees yesterday on our block and an undisclosed number on the next block, the Mayor and City Manager eventually came through for us with the temporary postponement.
Hopefully the City can think creatively to find solutions to repair the tiny sidewalk cracks without clear-cutting the trees.
(And if you live on a tree-lined street, watch out — you too could see the clear-cutting crew come through with no notice!).
And please join the NW Glendale Homeowners Association to ensure that our neighborhood’s voice continues to be heard and respected at City Hall!
Great job Doug! And thank you Elise for your site.
I love our tree shaded, wide open streets in NW Glendale. Unfortunately, decisions made years ago about tract maps and plantings today cause a problem. As residents we need to care for our trees and realize that many planted years ago are now reaching their life spans and do need to be replaced. I urge you to look st your trees and give this some thought.
Public Works and their contractor could have done a better outreach effort.
I give credit to the city for reviewing the removal order, but if it is the same contractor that I dealt with for sidewalks a block up on Cleveland, I viewed them as a get it done quick, any way you can and to heck with the homeowners. I had asked them to consider widening the driveway size since the original was made for cars much older and smaller than current cars. He blew me off by saying he would discuss it with the city and get back to me but he did not even bother to take my name or address. And, of course, I never heard back from him and the driveway was not widened.