To Save a Majestic Tree
Friday, July 21, 2023
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| 150 year old Western Red Cedar |
Story and photos by Glen Milner
About three miles south of Lake Forest Park, in the Seattle Wedgewood area, is a scene many of us are familiar with— involving the clearing of substantial trees on a residential lot for new housing. As in our area, urban density and affordable housing concerns are pitted against ecologically sound tree management.
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| Over 200 people gathered at the construction site on July 18th |
At a rally on July 18, 2023 over two hundred people met with organizers and participants who addressed their concerns at the construction site.
Organizers did not blame the developers, arborists, and builders as much as Seattle city managers who have not done enough to protect large trees—in this case a 150 year-old Western Red Cedar.
Most remarkable is that as the residential lot was cleared for six new housing units—young activists decided that the time to act was now—to save the tree and to save ourselves.
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| Activists are living in the tree, while supporters place signs on the construction fence. |
Please visit the site at 3849 NE 88th Street in Seattle. Go south on Lake City Way to 35th Ave NE and then south to NE 88th Street.
Activists are currently camped at about 40 feet above ground in the tree — halfway up the 80-foot tree. These activists, along with their ground support, are there 24 hours a day.
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| Signs express demonstrators concerns |
In a world where we are told that there is nothing we can do to make a difference—these people are.
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2 comments:
Seattle and Shoreline officials should sit down with Lake Forest Park officials and use the LFP tree code as a model to revise their tree codes.
This cedar tree is considered to be closer to 200 years old and should be preserved. There was a previous architectural plan that did include saving this cedar tree. The developers changed it and they also have not complied with notification ordinances.
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