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Does your block need street trees?

Does your block need street trees? The City is taking applications for the Adopt-A-Tree Program throughout July and August.

It costs $50 to get a tree planted – a good deal for the size and type of trees that are installed.

HERE IS THE LETTER that explains the details, HERE IS THE ACTUAL APPLICATION to get a tree planted.

83 comments

Chelsea Harnish 07/13/2017 at 6:53 AM

We took advantage of this program about 5-6 years ago and our tree is doing really well! The arborist comes out to see your site to determine the best type of tree for your tree well. We have power lines directly above our tree well so they chose a species that doesn’t grow too high. We’ve been very happy with the results!

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Tammie Lyle 07/13/2017 at 6:58 AM

My block needs these trees cut down never maintain, roots lifting sidewalks up,a good rain or wind limbs falling on cars, houses and people. NONE NEEDED

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urbngrilla 07/13/2017 at 8:23 AM

Thanks so much for posting this! Was just discussing the adopt-a-tree program, and in years past, the timing and deadline were different. Now, we have the correct info and can proceed with wrangling us some trees!

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Neighbor 07/13/2017 at 8:41 AM

Replacement trees in the round-a-bouts at Chimborazo elementary school and other places would be good since one or more got ran over.

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Katie Annette Arrowsmith 07/13/2017 at 7:44 AM

Right, why plant these trees if the city will not maintain them.

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Leslie Moore 07/13/2017 at 9:11 AM

Thank you for this. I was thinking just yesterday that I needed to place a request. We did this when we lived on Nansemond Street, and the tree did very well. We need to replace two dead trees in front of our house on 36th Street that had to be taken down.

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Eric Huffstutler 07/13/2017 at 9:13 AM

That is a good price if someone wants to Adopt-A-Tree. If anyone wants some of ours on the 400 block of block N 27th, just send a LARGE crane over and take what you want! I have been trying to get the city to fix our sidewalks due to the roots for 9 years and their idea of the fix would be to remove 19 trees and replant… which is beyond their budget and so, we are stuck with crappy sidewalks and damaged retaining walls.

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Kathleen 07/13/2017 at 9:28 AM

We’ve gotten 2 trees from this program and they’ve done well. I’m applying for another one on our block. I think the price is much better this year? I thought I paid $100 for the one that I got in front of my house a few years ago.

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Bill Hartsock 07/13/2017 at 9:43 AM

I had three planted on my block on Marshall St. and they are going great. They give you a Gator (a water bag that goes around the base) and you should water for the first year. After that it should be good on it’s own. I had some old trees taken out before the new ones were put in. If you have old trees pushing up sidewalks, call the City and explain that it is a public safety, tripping issue. They have responded fairly quickly in the past, since it is a liability issue.Never say, NONE NEEDED. My house is cooler in the summer because of the trees. Have saved electricity on air conditioning bills.

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Kristin Margaret Polich 07/13/2017 at 8:44 AM

I did this as well and my tree is doing great. I’m happy to maintain it and care for it.

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Eric Huffstutler 07/13/2017 at 10:13 AM

@9 Bill Hartsock, if you know a trick that I haven’t tried to get the city to fix our sidewalks, then please share. At one point, there were 9 different people being cc: within the city in a correspondence thread and at one point, one person promised to get it done. That never happened as, the assessment to remove the current sidewalks, remove the offending trees, plant new ones, remove the curbing and realign it, and lay the new bed and brick was going to cost around $600,000. That was way over budget for them and so, just left it hanging. I was told to get in contact with Cynthia Newbille. Yeah, right, while I see sidewalks in low to no public traffic areas being replaced for aesthetics as opposed to necessity on our block.

They also mentioned liability. That they would need to find a contractor who will cover any damages associated with this project since apparently the root systems have damaged, or compromised, the retaining walls along our block. And there are risk factors that they will fail with the root and sidewalk removal.

You would think with the high traffic from the restaurants and tourists, as well as locals, that they would want to fix this block while, these old large trees develop large rotten limbs that keep crashing down during storms. They sent a truck to prune a couple a few months back but there are many high up in these 75-100 foot trees left untouched.

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Lee 07/13/2017 at 11:35 AM

So, haven’t read the application, but how do we request a tree well where there isn’t one? Is there a process for that? Or am I just out of luck? (Fortunately, the neighbors already have trees in their yard that shade the house, but the sidewalk would look better with some greenery – well, other than what is already growing through the brick!)

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Chelsea Harnish 07/13/2017 at 12:09 PM

It’s not up to the city to maintain. It’s up to the homeowner.

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M Aaron Campbell 07/13/2017 at 12:09 PM

Agreed

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Aaron McFarland 07/13/2017 at 12:10 PM

Please try the arborists/city again. There are 2 new arborists on staff who may be able to assist you better in that scenario.Also, this city needs more street trees, but just proper selections to avoid the exact issue(s) you are speaking of. As much as grand, old trees are interesting for their history and what they’ve "seen" over the years, they also come with their issues. More trees, more plants, always.

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Aaron McFarland 07/13/2017 at 12:16 PM

Please make these concerns known to your representative as they can then address getting the proper funding for adequate staff and equipment.To give you an idea, the city has the money for 3 arborists (who are able to do some hands on work but are generally visiting sites and marking trees for removal or maintenance) and 2 tree crews (a couple of guys who come in with the equipment to do maintenance and removal). That’s for the whole city. I’d equate that to having 2 people run a whole restaurant at peak hours, expecting them to wait on customers, do the food prep and cooking, and all the cleanup but in the time it takes a normal full staff to do so. If we want to have a beautiful, environmentally friendly, and healthy city, we need to make sure there is first proper funding for the labor that accompanies it. This starts from concerned citizens, like you and me, making our voice known.

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Katie Annette Arrowsmith 07/13/2017 at 12:33 PM

Chelsea Harnish I got the impression this article was referring to the trees that line the street- on city property. Maybe this is some other program?

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Dandelion 07/13/2017 at 1:34 PM

So the city will willingly sell trees but won’t cut back, maintain or control the complete over growth at Chimbo Park that disrupted the view?! Irony.

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Tammie Lyle 07/13/2017 at 12:41 PM

Thanks at least you responded

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Drizzle 07/13/2017 at 1:48 PM

I had some problems with CAR in the past, anger over replacing rotting siding with near identical without their blessing and replacing my barely functioning wood windows with vinyl. They got all kinds of butthurt, acting like half the rest of the neighborhood didn’t already have vinyl. I put back in the wood ones for a few years and planted some trees.

Well the trees cover the whole front of the house now, I’ve put back in my windows, and the CAR is content harassing some other homeowners instead trying to improve their blighted properties. Like most busy parents, I don’t have time to deal with homeowners associations/CARs and this was a great solution instead.

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Gretta 07/13/2017 at 2:27 PM

Aren’t you special, Drizzle, to be a busy parent 😉 Doesn’t relieve you of being a member of the community.

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Thomas J. Alleman 07/13/2017 at 3:10 PM

all blocks need street trees.

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Eric Huffstutler 07/13/2017 at 6:05 PM

@20 Drizzle, I have said this before. When you buy a home in an O&H or DHR registered historic district, you should expect to uphold certain standards as homeowners and if you don’t want to take on those responsibilities, then buy elsewhere. There are reasons for rules and regulations. Other historic cities have them in place but and are even more strict than Richmond enforcing them. They were created to maintain the historical integrity of a home.

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Erik Akers 07/13/2017 at 9:29 PM

Dude every block need "street trees" and jazz cabbage

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Jean McDaniel 07/14/2017 at 9:48 AM

Our tree in front of 2810 East Grace is dead. It is hollow in the middle. It has dropped large branches and damaged my car, my neighbors car and my fence. It has two latge widow makers ready to drop any moment. I and my neighbors have contacted the city numerous times about having it removed and nothing has been done.

I guess it will take someone getting permanent brain damage before the City will take the necessary action of removing it.

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Eric Huffstutler 07/14/2017 at 3:01 PM

@25 Jean… I hear you. I have complained for 9 years about the sidewalk. Several years about the tree directly in front of our house that keeps pushing itself up out of the ground more and more while leaning towards the street. And had two cars recently have severe damage from large limbs falling while each storm brings more rotten ones down. I understand there is a form that you can fill out with the city to make damage claims to personal property by the city trees.

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Mark 07/15/2017 at 7:50 AM

I would recommend to all of you with dead trees, this comes from the City’s attorney’s office, as I dealt with them on the situation. It must be reported and documented, city acknowledged, arborist has deemed it unsafe and there is a pending work order to cut it down. Did the first 2 but wasn’t good enough for claim. Gotta keep pushing them as I found, it will lie dormant in their “dead hole”. And they want to fire Mesh Dalal? Go figure?

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John M 07/22/2017 at 9:04 AM

Reminder: Deadline for applications is September 1.

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Ryan 07/25/2017 at 10:04 AM

Once established, Domionion contractors will come turn the trees into bizarre shapes and giant Y’s. How historic!

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