Slaughtering trees for the sake of finicky design is reprehensible, when there are alternative designs with equal footage that would EMBRACE their continued existence, and benefit from their proximity.
As a transplanted European with deeply ingrained youthful memories of walking in the forests of the Tyrol, Bavaria, and Fontainebleau, Normandy, and the Cevennnes of Southwest France, I cherish the treescapes of the Northwest U.S. and chose to live in Portland for the way this city, especially on the West side, is permeated with trees of many species. I’ve lived here since global climate change and ever-increasing traffic and pollution have changed the atmosphere, and feel mournful whenever I see trees coming down to make way for developments. I recognize the need for housing and the influx of new residents to this area, but there has to be a way to accommodate those needs AND the preservation of evergreens that provide much needed shade, HOUSING for other creatures (birds, squirrels, worms, etc.), and neutralization of pollution. — Signe Caspersen
There’s enough destruction, disruption, death, uncertainty in our lives at this time. To go ahead with a plan that adds, in its local neighborhood way, to this ongoing crisis shows callous disregard for the values of ecology, harmonious relationships, and the preciousness of life.
There are multiple reasons for preserving these beautiful trees, but I’m missing any reason for having them removed. If not necessary for construction of the ADU, what is it the neighbor feels justifies there destruction? I find it hard to believe that whoever eventually occupies the ADU wouldn’t also be appreciative of their preservation. I count the votes for saving the trees, infinite. Votes for cutting them down, 1. I truly hope the neighbor is not sacrificing trees in the name of spite. That would just be so very wrong and so very sad.
I do not know the details of why these plans were chosen for the ADU. Nevertheless, it only seems responsible to consult with one’s neighbors that would be significantly affected by the loss of these beautiful trees (I have seen them) and their ecological impact. At least be willing to have the conversation.
My husband and I live in Southeast Portland, but we spend weekends and other free time hiking within 60 miles of the city. When we don’t roam that far, we explore trails and neighborhoods in town, and have several times made pilgrimages to the esteemed oak in the 29th Place cul-de-sac. Thus we both have strong feelings about preserving the beauty and serenity of that neighborhood, where relationships have previously been cordial and considerate. Intransigence in the face of so much opposition – and pain – is hard to understand, especially since this property must have been bought in appreciation of the flora and fauna long established.
— Alexa Mangrove
It is a shame to see that this kind of change to a neighborhood and all its residents including wildlife is not viewed with more concern by city leaders. In the northwest, trees are part of our history and the legacy we hope to leave to our children. They contribute to a healthy ecology and quality of life. It just seems logical that some kind of arrangement ought to be possible to meet the needs of the landowner and save the trees. I am amazed there are not rules in place to protect our environment to a greater degree.
There is so much scientific research documenting the significance of tree stands as a significant factor in climate change, physical illnesses such as asthma, mental health (stress levels, depression, anxiety), immune function, energy consumption, habitat for beneficial species, temporizing of weather extremes, soil health, and so on. Even though I am very sympathetic to the appropriateness of ADUs in Portland, I cannot fathom why these mature Douglas firs should be unnecessarily sacrificed to this plan.
As an Oregonian, and someone who respects nature and all of it’s intricacies, I am amazed at some peoples approach to our urban forest. To take down a group of eight, 80-100 year old Douglas Fir trees is a selfish act and is unnecessary. There are always options to be explored, and often there is a solution to removing more trees from our natural world. In a day and age when our world is being decimated by over population, and the exploitation of natural resources is staggering, we should be willing to slow down and think about the big picture, and look at options which could be less impacting. It’s not about what is best for the individual, it’s about what is best for the environment and community as a whole. The benefits of trees is enormous, and their conservation should be implemented by home owners as well as the city planning codes. As the population of Portland continues to grow, especially with people from out of state who don’t understand their impacts on our local environment, we will continue to see more deforestation, unless the city stands up for what is best for our neighborhoods and environment.
Building to suit the site was once admired. Now the design is usually made in an office and the site must conform to the building plans. The scourge of the track hoe. Happens constantly with the builders And developers I work with. Portland’s tree preservation code has helped a lot
We have been reminded in these past months of a truth often forgotten, that we are interdependent in fundamental ways for our continued health and well-being. Perhaps this is a time for us to practice living this truth more fully. I have been trying to do this in my own life and I can promise you it does require practice. (My motto now is “Just because I can, doesn’t mean I should.”) In this case, it seems it would be well worth trying to find a way to preserve these beautiful trees while still accomplishing the goal of a new structure. It isn’t the easiest way forward, but perhaps it is a start toward a new way of being community. Sheila Kodadek
Please pause. Please consider the gift of trees that nature has placed on our life paths. Please reflect with me. What happens when walking by , standing beneath or leaning against a tree? Do we see that trees, with their ever reaching roots, strengthen not only themselves but their neighboring trees? What strength do they share with us? Do we see their trunks, bearing beautiful “bark design” and wounds, now healed, pushing upward and outward toward new life?
What a joy it is for me to look up
through tree branches and see the stars twinkling or find the blue sky, to enjoy the scent of the wood and find rain drops lit gloriously on boughs, and ahh, the delight of the scurry and song of the happy tree dwellers.
Please consider keeping these life giving “tree neighbors” for all of us who now, and in the future, will pause and realize their critical importance and value for us all.
My husband and I live in the same neighborhood (very) close to the neighbor who intends to remove seven (approximately 60 ft. tall) beautiful Douglas firs trees, to build an ADU on his property.
We are in total agreement with (most all) the views expressed here, that it would a very bad mistake and we could not have expressed our grievences against doing this more eloquently!
The plans for building this ADU (and saving the trees involved) could easily be modified by changing the configuration of the (ADU building floor plan), thus preserving the trees. This would continue to preserve and give shelter to the beauty and environment of our beautiful Hillsdale neighborhood, (not to mention preserving the over 300 year old “Garry Oak” on our property) and other surrounding trees and wildlife.
The important part of this is preservation. The trees provide more then homes and protection for wildlife, it provides climate air quality and shade . The value of large trees that could never be replaced is a huge environmental disruption. The quality of life for community far outweighs the quality of one family! At least work in harmony with the community and find a way that can benefit all parties affected.
Once these trees are removed, there is no turning back. It seems that pausing to look at all options only makes sense and that an already suggested comprise would still allow all neighbors to benefit from an acceptable solution. I strongly urge you to save these trees and hear the voices of all those impacted!
Hundreds of years of life dead in an afternoon. Don’t do it just because you can. As Max Ehrmann Wrote: “You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars. In the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.”
It is heartbreaking to read this person feels they ‘own’ these trees just because they are on their property. Trees like this anywhere belong to the community, and it is the responsibility of the property owner to conserve and care for the health of the trees for the surrounding homes and wildlife. As there is a simple alternative for building the ADU with the same amount of square footage and maintaining the trees, I’d like to invite the property owner to comment here and engage with your community to share their perspective as to why they think it is justifiable to take the lives of these giant trees. You’re entire community is crying out. Please respond.
This is an extremely bad time to add any further insults to the environment, to each other’s immune systems, to others’ precarious states of well-being. Just as trees are our protectors, we should be their guardians. Future inhabitants of this proposed structure, as well as birds, plants, and nearby neighbors, will benefit from the Seven Sisters’ enduring presence. The owners will enjoy their fellow Portlanders’ good will instead of their condemnation, and the satisfaction of having contributed to life and harmony instead of destroying them.
I have had the privilege of sitting under the canopy of this stand of trees. No sanctuary could be more peaceful. Trees not only provide beauty, but they protect our planet. In the words of FDR “A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people. ”
There is obviously room here for all to dwell in harmony. Build the ADU using a redesigned plan and let the trees remain. No one needs to suffer or experience loss in order to have the ADU built. Co-existence is the key to every community. It is truly the only way we can all survive and even thrive.
Trees are the lifeblood of the earth. Having come from San Francisco and seeing the barrenness of a treeless landscape, my heart aches for this beautiful neighborhood facing more tree loss. We moved here in 1993 to a house surrounded by coniferous and deciduous trees. In 1995 we lost four of our coniferous trees. The loss of those trees compromised the root system of others. Subsequently, we lost a beautiful oak a few years later as the tree came down where the roots had been intertwined. Please reconsider the permit of this ADU. If it can be redesigned to save the trees, please do so. The neighborhood will thank you and be better for it.
Rilke wrote: “These trees are magnificent, but even more magnificent is the sublime and moving space between them, as though within their growth it too increased.” – Gaston Bachelard, The Poetics of Space
Trees are so important for our health and the health of our planet. I believe we should all be good stewards of the trees and wildlife habitat on our property. I hope a way can be found to save these beautiful trees.
I have been contemplating a response to a deplorable situation for some time and I have come to the conclusion it is time to act NOW to save our trees and our future. This is a deep rooted political issue involving a President who does not acknowledge climate change. We need to save as many trees as possible on our planet before it is too late for our children and grandchildren. This would be a small step in the right direction to work towards solving a much larger issue. I will be there and chain myself to a tree if it comes down to that!
Trees and the thousand shades of green they present are what make so many people, including myself, fall in love with Oregon. Humankind is slowly drifting away from nature and without knowing it, cutting off the lifeblood the nurtures its soul. As a child, I had a friend who said she will never be able to love again because her parents removed a small tree in their back yard to make room for a garden. She told me that hours a day were spent under its branches as she talked to it without uttering a single word. Trees are special and deserve to be honored and cherished. Think twice before cutting them down and ask yourself if doing so would hurt not just the trees, but those who have fallen in love with them.
Save Our Portland Trees
Saving our trees at this time is essential to slow down climate change in addition to retaining the beauty of our city and neighborhood
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Slaughtering trees for the sake of finicky design is reprehensible, when there are alternative designs with equal footage that would EMBRACE their continued existence, and benefit from their proximity.
LikeLike
As a transplanted European with deeply ingrained youthful memories of walking in the forests of the Tyrol, Bavaria, and Fontainebleau, Normandy, and the Cevennnes of Southwest France, I cherish the treescapes of the Northwest U.S. and chose to live in Portland for the way this city, especially on the West side, is permeated with trees of many species. I’ve lived here since global climate change and ever-increasing traffic and pollution have changed the atmosphere, and feel mournful whenever I see trees coming down to make way for developments. I recognize the need for housing and the influx of new residents to this area, but there has to be a way to accommodate those needs AND the preservation of evergreens that provide much needed shade, HOUSING for other creatures (birds, squirrels, worms, etc.), and neutralization of pollution. — Signe Caspersen
LikeLike
There’s enough destruction, disruption, death, uncertainty in our lives at this time. To go ahead with a plan that adds, in its local neighborhood way, to this ongoing crisis shows callous disregard for the values of ecology, harmonious relationships, and the preciousness of life.
LikeLike
There are multiple reasons for preserving these beautiful trees, but I’m missing any reason for having them removed. If not necessary for construction of the ADU, what is it the neighbor feels justifies there destruction? I find it hard to believe that whoever eventually occupies the ADU wouldn’t also be appreciative of their preservation. I count the votes for saving the trees, infinite. Votes for cutting them down, 1. I truly hope the neighbor is not sacrificing trees in the name of spite. That would just be so very wrong and so very sad.
LikeLike
I do not know the details of why these plans were chosen for the ADU. Nevertheless, it only seems responsible to consult with one’s neighbors that would be significantly affected by the loss of these beautiful trees (I have seen them) and their ecological impact. At least be willing to have the conversation.
LikeLike
My husband and I live in Southeast Portland, but we spend weekends and other free time hiking within 60 miles of the city. When we don’t roam that far, we explore trails and neighborhoods in town, and have several times made pilgrimages to the esteemed oak in the 29th Place cul-de-sac. Thus we both have strong feelings about preserving the beauty and serenity of that neighborhood, where relationships have previously been cordial and considerate. Intransigence in the face of so much opposition – and pain – is hard to understand, especially since this property must have been bought in appreciation of the flora and fauna long established.
— Alexa Mangrove
LikeLike
It is a shame to see that this kind of change to a neighborhood and all its residents including wildlife is not viewed with more concern by city leaders. In the northwest, trees are part of our history and the legacy we hope to leave to our children. They contribute to a healthy ecology and quality of life. It just seems logical that some kind of arrangement ought to be possible to meet the needs of the landowner and save the trees. I am amazed there are not rules in place to protect our environment to a greater degree.
LikeLike
There is so much scientific research documenting the significance of tree stands as a significant factor in climate change, physical illnesses such as asthma, mental health (stress levels, depression, anxiety), immune function, energy consumption, habitat for beneficial species, temporizing of weather extremes, soil health, and so on. Even though I am very sympathetic to the appropriateness of ADUs in Portland, I cannot fathom why these mature Douglas firs should be unnecessarily sacrificed to this plan.
LikeLike
As an Oregonian, and someone who respects nature and all of it’s intricacies, I am amazed at some peoples approach to our urban forest. To take down a group of eight, 80-100 year old Douglas Fir trees is a selfish act and is unnecessary. There are always options to be explored, and often there is a solution to removing more trees from our natural world. In a day and age when our world is being decimated by over population, and the exploitation of natural resources is staggering, we should be willing to slow down and think about the big picture, and look at options which could be less impacting. It’s not about what is best for the individual, it’s about what is best for the environment and community as a whole. The benefits of trees is enormous, and their conservation should be implemented by home owners as well as the city planning codes. As the population of Portland continues to grow, especially with people from out of state who don’t understand their impacts on our local environment, we will continue to see more deforestation, unless the city stands up for what is best for our neighborhoods and environment.
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Building to suit the site was once admired. Now the design is usually made in an office and the site must conform to the building plans. The scourge of the track hoe. Happens constantly with the builders And developers I work with. Portland’s tree preservation code has helped a lot
LikeLike
We have been reminded in these past months of a truth often forgotten, that we are interdependent in fundamental ways for our continued health and well-being. Perhaps this is a time for us to practice living this truth more fully. I have been trying to do this in my own life and I can promise you it does require practice. (My motto now is “Just because I can, doesn’t mean I should.”) In this case, it seems it would be well worth trying to find a way to preserve these beautiful trees while still accomplishing the goal of a new structure. It isn’t the easiest way forward, but perhaps it is a start toward a new way of being community. Sheila Kodadek
LikeLike
Please pause. Please consider the gift of trees that nature has placed on our life paths. Please reflect with me. What happens when walking by , standing beneath or leaning against a tree? Do we see that trees, with their ever reaching roots, strengthen not only themselves but their neighboring trees? What strength do they share with us? Do we see their trunks, bearing beautiful “bark design” and wounds, now healed, pushing upward and outward toward new life?
What a joy it is for me to look up
through tree branches and see the stars twinkling or find the blue sky, to enjoy the scent of the wood and find rain drops lit gloriously on boughs, and ahh, the delight of the scurry and song of the happy tree dwellers.
Please consider keeping these life giving “tree neighbors” for all of us who now, and in the future, will pause and realize their critical importance and value for us all.
LikeLike
My husband and I live in the same neighborhood (very) close to the neighbor who intends to remove seven (approximately 60 ft. tall) beautiful Douglas firs trees, to build an ADU on his property.
We are in total agreement with (most all) the views expressed here, that it would a very bad mistake and we could not have expressed our grievences against doing this more eloquently!
The plans for building this ADU (and saving the trees involved) could easily be modified by changing the configuration of the (ADU building floor plan), thus preserving the trees. This would continue to preserve and give shelter to the beauty and environment of our beautiful Hillsdale neighborhood, (not to mention preserving the over 300 year old “Garry Oak” on our property) and other surrounding trees and wildlife.
LikeLike
The important part of this is preservation. The trees provide more then homes and protection for wildlife, it provides climate air quality and shade . The value of large trees that could never be replaced is a huge environmental disruption. The quality of life for community far outweighs the quality of one family! At least work in harmony with the community and find a way that can benefit all parties affected.
LikeLike
Once these trees are removed, there is no turning back. It seems that pausing to look at all options only makes sense and that an already suggested comprise would still allow all neighbors to benefit from an acceptable solution. I strongly urge you to save these trees and hear the voices of all those impacted!
LikeLike
Hundreds of years of life dead in an afternoon. Don’t do it just because you can. As Max Ehrmann Wrote: “You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars. In the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.”
LikeLike
It is heartbreaking to read this person feels they ‘own’ these trees just because they are on their property. Trees like this anywhere belong to the community, and it is the responsibility of the property owner to conserve and care for the health of the trees for the surrounding homes and wildlife. As there is a simple alternative for building the ADU with the same amount of square footage and maintaining the trees, I’d like to invite the property owner to comment here and engage with your community to share their perspective as to why they think it is justifiable to take the lives of these giant trees. You’re entire community is crying out. Please respond.
LikeLike
This is an extremely bad time to add any further insults to the environment, to each other’s immune systems, to others’ precarious states of well-being. Just as trees are our protectors, we should be their guardians. Future inhabitants of this proposed structure, as well as birds, plants, and nearby neighbors, will benefit from the Seven Sisters’ enduring presence. The owners will enjoy their fellow Portlanders’ good will instead of their condemnation, and the satisfaction of having contributed to life and harmony instead of destroying them.
LikeLike
I have had the privilege of sitting under the canopy of this stand of trees. No sanctuary could be more peaceful. Trees not only provide beauty, but they protect our planet. In the words of FDR “A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people. ”
LikeLike
There is obviously room here for all to dwell in harmony. Build the ADU using a redesigned plan and let the trees remain. No one needs to suffer or experience loss in order to have the ADU built. Co-existence is the key to every community. It is truly the only way we can all survive and even thrive.
LikeLike
Trees are the lifeblood of the earth. Having come from San Francisco and seeing the barrenness of a treeless landscape, my heart aches for this beautiful neighborhood facing more tree loss. We moved here in 1993 to a house surrounded by coniferous and deciduous trees. In 1995 we lost four of our coniferous trees. The loss of those trees compromised the root system of others. Subsequently, we lost a beautiful oak a few years later as the tree came down where the roots had been intertwined. Please reconsider the permit of this ADU. If it can be redesigned to save the trees, please do so. The neighborhood will thank you and be better for it.
LikeLike
Rilke wrote: “These trees are magnificent, but even more magnificent is the sublime and moving space between them, as though within their growth it too increased.” – Gaston Bachelard, The Poetics of Space
LikeLike
Trees are so important for our health and the health of our planet. I believe we should all be good stewards of the trees and wildlife habitat on our property. I hope a way can be found to save these beautiful trees.
LikeLike
Thank you for your support, Senator Burdick!
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I have been contemplating a response to a deplorable situation for some time and I have come to the conclusion it is time to act NOW to save our trees and our future. This is a deep rooted political issue involving a President who does not acknowledge climate change. We need to save as many trees as possible on our planet before it is too late for our children and grandchildren. This would be a small step in the right direction to work towards solving a much larger issue. I will be there and chain myself to a tree if it comes down to that!
LikeLike
When great trees fall
in forests,
small things recoil into silence,
their senses
eroded beyond fear.” – Maya Angelou
LikeLike
Trees and the thousand shades of green they present are what make so many people, including myself, fall in love with Oregon. Humankind is slowly drifting away from nature and without knowing it, cutting off the lifeblood the nurtures its soul. As a child, I had a friend who said she will never be able to love again because her parents removed a small tree in their back yard to make room for a garden. She told me that hours a day were spent under its branches as she talked to it without uttering a single word. Trees are special and deserve to be honored and cherished. Think twice before cutting them down and ask yourself if doing so would hurt not just the trees, but those who have fallen in love with them.
LikeLike