Riverside Drive: More Trees Cut Down Saturday

Photo: Red Car Property Neighbor #1, August 29, 2016.  Saturday, more large trees including at least one Protected Native Black Walnut Tree and a "significant" sized Eucalyptus were removed along with other trees from yet another lot on Riverside Drive.  (Click on photos to enlarge.)

It's hard to tell the addresses when there are a total of 13 substandard vacant lots adjacent to the Red Car Property here. More than one Black Walnut Tree has been removed since August 15.   A "significant" tree has no protected status, but usually require replacement on a 1:1 basis with a tree that won't reach that size again in our lifetimes.  Yet, without a discretionary action by City Planning, there is no public review and no accountability.

Photo: Red Car Property Neighbor #2, August 26, 2016.  Last Friday, the developer tore down the much beloved local landmark, the curvy stairs on Riverside Drive and cut into the hillside on a number of lots with a backhoe, despite only having grading permits in hand for 1 of the 13 vacant lots (and not the one with the curvy stairs.)

Also worth noting is the ancient concrete property line marker that marks the rear lot line adjacent to the Red Car Property.  (We'll address property line markers and brush clearance in upcoming posts.)

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 24, 2016.  It's hard to tell, but the wall with graffiti on it, is hidden behind the Black Walnut Tree.  

Also worth noting are the low, green "bushes."  Those are not bushes, but protected native Black Walnut Trees that were cut down 2 years ago without permits. They have been regenerating as native trees in the right habitat will do.  We addressed this in the past as well as after the Silver Lake Fire and will address this again as we have extensive archives.

In my experience, if they're cutting down trees on a Saturday, they likely don't have a permits to remove the protected native trees.  This lot does not appear to have the same address as the lot which received a permit to remove one protected native Black Walnut Tree.