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July 16, 2008
Street Trees
Is it improper to request a street tree from the city for a tree pit that's not in front of your house? Nothing in the rules/request form indicates that you have to live in front of the pit for which you are requesting a tree, but maybe it is implied. There is a tree pit down the block from my building with only a stump (the tree was cut down for reasons unknown to me), and it creates an unfortunate gap in the otherwise tree-lined block.
Comments
Canvas all of your neighbors on the block. If you can present a united case, it's possible your request shall be dealt with more assertively. Prepare a letter, rather than a petition.
Posted by: James Patience at July 16, 2008 1:45 PM
I did the online form on the parks website. I gave my address, but for the tree pit I put down the address next door, which is where it is. I received an email within a matter of days approving the request.
Posted by: slopefarm at July 16, 2008 2:13 PM
I wanted a tree in front of my building but the parks dept wouldn't approve of it. They did explain the reasons and added I could have one planted in front of my next door neighbor's. I went for it. I didn't occur to me the neighbour may not like that...
I am curious, why would it be improper to request for a beautiful tree on the streets?
Posted by: Ray at July 16, 2008 2:25 PM
The Times ran an article recently about how much grief the street tree team gets when they show up to plant a tree- with on guy actually laying on the ground to prevent a tree in front of his house. He didn't want the leaf mess.
Posted by: Park Place at July 16, 2008 2:53 PM
There's a tree pit on my block which has been empty for years, and I've often wondered this same thing.
I didn't want to be one of those crazy neighborhs, but it's such a nice beautiful tree-lined street that I thought it would be nice to have the gap filled in with a tree.
Perhaps I'll finally follow through on it.
Posted by: 11217 at July 16, 2008 3:17 PM
Ray - I was just worried that perhaps the only person legally entitled to request a tree is the owner of the property behind it (given that owners are obligated to clean up snow on the sidewalk in front of their property, etc.), or that I may be stepping on toes by requesting a tree in front of someone else's house (especially if they were behind the removal of the tree that previously occupied the space, which looked beautiful and healthy to me). But I think I will go for it and put in the request.
Posted by: brooklynguy at July 16, 2008 3:53 PM
People who object to trees because they don't want the leaf mess... oh man. We have a neighbor like that. We heard him bragging loudly about his new chainsaw, and then he proceeded to give our beloved 40 foot tall maple tree a mohawk.
Posted by: StuyMom at July 16, 2008 5:22 PM
Thanks Brooklynguy, I was curious.
It's shocking to read about the different preferences people have.
No trees on the front of my house because of the mess the leaves make? Boy, I would try to never get a female gymko close to my house but complaining about the leaves I just think is too much.
Posted by: Ray at July 16, 2008 9:28 PM
The Parks Department rule used to be you had to own the house, but ever since PlaNYC and the Million Trees Initiative, anyone can request trees for any location. I requested several trees to be planted a couple of blocks away from my home and they were planted within 2-3 months (I think I made the request in the middle of the winter).
Posted by: brooklynrulz at July 17, 2008 9:10 AM
It is not improper, but it is very presumptuous.
Personally, I would be pissed if my neighbor decided to request a tree in front of my house because they wanted one there.
Have you asked your neighbor?
If cleaning up after the tree is an issue for them- are you prepared to clean up after it?
Maybe the roots are an issue? Will they tear up the sidewalk and then cause the owner to have to repair the sidewalk- at a cost to them (not you and not the city)? Or what if it gets into their pipes?
Are you prepared to pay for that?
Maybe they have a reason.
I would speak to your neighbor before you decide what is best for the block you live on and share with other people.
You will probably get better results that way.
Posted by: brooklynjennie at July 17, 2008 12:21 PM
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