Beware the Wrath of the Tree Roots
This scene on Washington Avenue is a reminder of how powerfully destructive tree roots can be. In this case, the victim was a huge chunk of bluestone; in others, it can be old clay pipes getting strangled to death. Wonder if they thought about the consequences when these were planted over a century ago.
This scene on Washington Avenue is a reminder of how powerfully destructive tree roots can be. In this case, the victim was a huge chunk of bluestone; in others, it can be old clay pipes getting strangled to death. Wonder if they thought about the consequences when these were planted over a century ago.
I am dealing with this issue currently in a landmarked sidewalk, after meeting with an arborist, i found out that the parks dept. usually doesn’t need to “ask for permission” from the dept of Transportation to enlarge a tree bed thus allowing the roots to “relax”, with some coordination you can have a contractor to open the side walk for the Parks to come and look at it, shave the roots and in the future if anything were to happen they are liable not the owner.
I am dealing with this issue currently in a landmarked sidewalk, after meeting with an arborist, i found out that the parks dept. usually doesn’t need to “ask for permission” from the dept of Transportation to enlarge a tree bed thus allowing the roots to “relax”, with some coordination you can have a contractor to open the side walk for the Parks to come and look at it, shave the roots and in the future if anything were to happen they are liable not the owner.
I am dealing with this issue currently in a landmarked sidewalk, after meeting with an arborist, i found out that the parks dept. usually doesn’t need to “ask for permission” from the dept of Transportation to enlarge a tree bed thus allowing the roots to “relax”, with some coordination you can have a contractor to open the side walk for the Parks to come and look at it, shave the roots and in the future if anything were to happen they are liable not the owner.
We just got a violation for tree roots pushing up the sidewalk…on order for us to fix it, the slip says we have to take out a work permit from the DOB than coordinate with the Parks Dept to shave the roots than get a certified contractor out to fix and finally get the city back to re-inspect..way too labor intensive, or you can just wait it out till the city fixes it and you get the bill
Did brownstoner really put up this article or has the site been hacked?
Really, it doesn’t bear further comment, its just silly.
I had a neighbor years ago who cut down a huge beautiful old tree in front of his house because its roots were buckling the sidewalks. This was in Southern CA. And the buckling was so slight. Not worth losing the tree. He didn’t even try to trim back the roots, either. It sickened me to see a perfectly healthy, 80 year old tree cut down like that. But sure enough come Summer the idiot neighbor was complaining how hot his house was, and expensive to cool it. DUH!! He cut down his shade tree! What did he think trees were for? Anyone who disdains trees as merely decorative (or something political) is an moron.
For anyone not in a landmarked area who’s looking for a tree-friendly sidewalk that’s also viewed kindly by insurance agencies: check out http://www.rubbersidewalks.com. I came across this site recently while debating the fate of my crumbling concrete sidewalk upstate, and think I may go for it. What’s not to like? The stuff is recycled, not terrible to look at, cushioned, long lasting, can be removed and replaced to get at piping…and take a look at the way roots grow under the slabs.
The original blue stone sidewalks were placed exactly to easily take care of the growing trees. You would pull up the blue stone, shave the roots and replace the stone….can’t do that with cement. And by the way NYC has the most greenspace of any city in the country…San Francisco is second I believe.
No, no, not in the slightest! Just making an observation as someone who’s newly renovated house was flooded because our waste line–which happens to run under a big tree out front–collapsed…The huge old trees are one of the great things about Clinton Hill.