Fourth Street Trees??

Looks like it's true:

4th Street (County Road 9) Construction Project

Check out the Boulevarde Tree Assessments, looks like they are taking out a bunch of trees.

Here's a link to info on the project:
4th Street (County Road 9) Construction Project

And another link to a slideshow from the meeting last week. 
The photo of the treehugger is from the slideshow. 

As I understand it, the trees will be removed, but replaced (with younger trees) because the construction, utility work etc will probably kill or put them at risk anyway.

Yeah they're saying: 

"Plans for tree replacement were also investigated and include using more mature trees for replanting and replacing trees at the rate of two planted for every tree removed. A variety of tree species that are well suited for urban boulevards will be utilized."

Sounds like bike lanes will be incorporated as well.

Richard Thomas did an article on this in June for the Budgeteer.

End of the big trees on East 4th Street?

Thanks for all of the information! It will be sad to see those beautiful trees go.

Shocking news indeed.

I was surprised to read in the Budgeteer story that trees can survive having as much as half their root system disrupted. Is it fair to say that it's almost always possible to preserve trees, but that the effort brings additional cost and uncertainty to the project?

The conclusion tends to be that there are no alternatives and there is nothing we can do. But doesn't this ultimately come down to our priorities and standards? Development and infrastructure projects are always cheapest when we raze the land before hand. Can't we insist on a balanced approach?

More today in the DNT.

Fourth Street reconstruction puts picturesque maples in peril