Recently I was thinking about requesting a street tree for in front of my house. I was curious as to why the former owners, who bought this house from the city and reclaimed it from squatters in the mid-80s, hadn’t done so.
I asked my neighbor, Miss H, who’s been living on this block for over 40 years, about it. She said that she and Miss G (the former owner) had actually had the trees in front of their houses removed so that people wouldn’t hang out in the shade and cause trouble.
There’s no sign of a tree ever having been planted in front of this house, but a lot has happened over the years (broken water main, new intake pipe, lots of new construction).
I’ve read elsewhere that Bed-Stuy has fewer trees than other residential neighborhoods, and of course there are various theories as to why this might be. Has anyone else heard that homeowners have removed them in the interest of crime prevention?
I have been trying to get a tree on my block and you know what so funny that an elderly woman who was head of the community board prevented anyone from the black to request a tree b/c she was afraid that
she would get attacked by anyone hiding beg=hind one. First off I am not heartless but if someone attacks you they just attack you tree or not also
how could someone tear down a tree???
trees beautify a neighborhood brings up the property….well tell me how you are going about getting your tree…I have contacted DOB 7 parks about the process…we could exchange notes
I have been trying to get a tree on my block and you know what so funny that an elderly woman who was head of the community board prevented anyone from the block to request a tree b/c she was afraid that
she would get attacked by anyone hiding beg=hind one. First off I am not heartless but if someone attacks you they just attack you tree or not also
how could someone tear down a tree???
trees beautify a neighborhood brings up the property….well tell me how you are going about getting your tree…I have contacted DOB 7 parks about the process…we could exchange notes
sorry for the dupes
The city put trees on our block about two years ago when they redid the sidewalks. A neighbor of ours, who has lived in the neighborhood since the 60’s was telling us about a guy down the block who rips trees out that are planted in front of his property, because he says the roots mess with his plumbing. I had never heard of this before, but I suppose he felt strongly about it. We love our tree. People use it to drop their trash and let their dogs piss and crap, but we love it anyway. Someday it will be huge and beautiful.
Dan I feel the same way as you do when it comes my tree. I can’t wait until it becomes taller than the building. I just hope it can withstand all of the, uh, stress it faces on a daily basis.
Sarah, I’d keep bugging the parks folk to get the tree planted. I’d keep putting in requests until they finally show up with a sapling at my front door.
@ The Changeling I think I better do that, I honestly hate that I do not have any trees on my block just because of someone else’s issues….
We’re big advocates for a greener Bed-Stuy so you should stay on this regardless of what’s been said/done in the past. My block – MacDonough Street between Stuyvesant and Lewis – just placed 1st in the Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest. Join us at the press conference on Tuesday the 7th at 11 PM on the block. Marty Markowitz will be there along with the folks from Greenbridge so you can voice your concerns and get some direction for your streets.
The benfits far out weight any draw backs. I understand the trees being planted now have shallow root systems — less of a treat to plumbing.They promote clean air, and help keep your home cool in the summer. Like all things natural they require some work (raking leaves), but given the poor health of many Bed-stuyers a little exercise might not be so bad!
Congratulations on winning The Greenest Block!!! Oh how I wish that someday that Myrtle Avenue will have a winner in that contest…
Greenest block? gotta get my camera over there!
you know what I will do that!!! but i am not sure if this is true or not but i heard you have to attend community board meetings for a year in order to get a tree on your block, is that true???
http://www.bbg.org/edu/greenbridge/greenestblock/areportfromthe13th.html
Click this link for a great article and more info on the Greenest Block Contest.
Sarah, absolutely not.
The press conference is at 11 AM not PM. Sorry.
This link will take you to the city website where you can request a tree. If you request one, it can take up to a year to get it. The other option that they suggest is to plant your own, although you may need a permit. If you follow this link as it will tell you how to 1) request a free tree from the city or 2) get the proper paperwork so that you can plant your own tree.
http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/trees_greenstreets/street_tree_plant.html#plantyourown
Crystal, I’ll see you at the press conference!
Thanks for the link….but I applied about three months ago….I am going to keep this link as one of my favorites and bombard them twice a week… maybe too much but I am determined. Thanks!!!
Right on, Sarah! Right on! The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
I requested a tree (via the form linked above) in the spring of ’05 or so and forgot about it, until one day in May ’06 the city came and sawcut my sidewalk, putting a beautiful (maybe three year old) oak in. I had an ironmonger working at the time at the site who threw together a guard.
It’s one of my favorite things about this house. I wish everyone on my block and in my borough who can would do this.
Sarah – a little Freudian slip on that 1st post? “community board prevented anyone from the black to request a tree”.
hey, all you have to do is apply and you will get a tree. but the owner of your bldg needs to approve/sign the application. you can download an application off of the web, i think its nyc.gov but just search for street trees nyc. there is not too much mystery to it! it will come within two years. keep on it and call every three months to check on your application til you get it. you can also xerox these applications and go door to door in your neighborhood. which i highly recommend doing. good luck!
I got a link from this lovely site a while ago and printed out the request and had my neighbors fill out the forms as well. I emailed the info and it helped that I went to the community board meeting about 2 months ago, waited 3 hours for the floor to still not open to community conerns. SO after I emailed my request, they asked if I went to the community board and told them of my experience, they seemed very helpful,and happy that I was being active. About a month later a person from the “tree dept” came to show us where the trees would be planted. Let’s see. Also a friend did say she had to have her tree removed some time ago because of the crackheads using it as a regular toilet.