Removal of row of trees on Boston street cutting deep for longtime residents

The removal of a row of trees on a picturesque Boston street is cutting deep for longtime residents, as neighbors who watched the trees mature over the years wonder whether all of them deserved the ax.

The city's Parks and Recreation Department said all of the trees it cut down on Chandler Street were either dead or on the verge of it, but some who live in the area aren't convinced.

Those people also believe the city should've done more to notify them before the chopping began.

"If you walk down a street without trees, it's kind of bleak-looking," South End resident Bob Bryant said.

The trees that line the streets of the South End add to the quaint charm of a community in the heart of the city.

"People want the neighborhood to look nice," Bryant said. "Trees add a feeling that you're not in the city as much as you are."

A feeling Bryant has embraced on Chandler Street for the 35 years he's lived there.

Now, seeing the city chop down four trees that were there long before him has turned into a sudden change with a lasting impact.

"We've watched them grow up," Bryant said. "It's upsetting because they can't be replaced."

Some neighbors claim they had no warning that the trees were getting the ax until they heard it happening.

"We'd love to know the city is doing things like this," South End resident Justin Weyand said. "There’s no way we could have known, just one day heard the chain saws outside my window and left wondering what was happening."

While there are questions as to whether all of the the trees were dead, the city is standing by its actions, which it says stem from complaints reported by people.

"They were sick and they were dying, so get rid of them," South End resident Alexey Moody said.

The Parks and Recreation Department said it now plans to conduct research on what caused the death of these trees, and will replant new ones later in 2019.

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"Once they put in a new tree, which wont be until the spring or summer, there's no guarantee that tree will survive," Bryant said.

The city said it conducted a thorough investigation before making the decision to remove the trees.

Despite criticism about lack of communication with residents, the city says it isn't required to notify neighbors when cutting down dead trees.

Cox Media Group