The stately sequoia tree that has graced West 41st Avenue in Kerrisdale for close to 90 years is ailing and needs to be cut down.
That鈥檚 the word from Bill Trafford with TPMG Capital real estate, which manages the property.
This giant sequoia tree on West 41st Avenue, a Kerrisdale landmark, will soon be removed due to its ailing health. Photo Jennifer Gauthier
In an email to the Courier, Trafford said the towering tree was recently examined by a horticulturist and the results were 鈥渘ot good.鈥�
鈥淯nfortunately the tree roots extend under the road and the tree has been under heavy stress,鈥� wrote Trafford. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had a tree company take care of the tree for several years, but it was their latest recommendation that the tree come down. A full report was forwarded to the Kerrisdale Business Association as they had concerns too鈥︹��
Terri Clark, executive director of the Kerrisdale Business Association, said she鈥檚 heard from many residents concerned about the tree, which she describes as looking more and more sickly as time went on.
鈥淚 know about trees and the way they act. Sometimes when a tree drops its leaves people think it鈥檚 dead when it鈥檚 not,鈥� says Clark. 鈥淏ut, this whole thing is red and dropping bark. It鈥檚 probably been dead for two years.鈥�
Clark says the sequoia has been under acute stress the past several years, especially when you consider the three consecutive extremely dry summers 麻豆传媒映画suffered. As well, the tree is completely surrounded by concrete and buildings 鈥� not an ideal situation for a giant sequoia.
鈥淚t鈥檚 in a completely inappropriate place,鈥� says Clark.
Clark says after hearing concerns from many locals the association contacted TPMG Capital in February and, with permission from the board, offered to pay to have an arborist assess the tree.
鈥淭hey declined and said they had their own people looking at it,鈥� says Clark.
Clark says she has a large tree in her own back yard so knows the kind of space they need.
鈥淚鈥檝e found roots 100 yards away in the neighbour鈥檚 yard,鈥� says Clark. 鈥淭hey鈥檒l go anywhere to survive.鈥�
Clark and other members of the association hope once the tree comes down the property management company will donate some of the lumber so they can have slab benches made to place along the new Arbutus bikeway 鈥渆nsuring a part of it can remain where its life鈥檚 journey began.鈥�
A note about the sequoia on the association鈥檚 website reads in part, 鈥渢he response of Kerrisdale鈥檚 populace has been amazing; so much love and concern for a stately wooden sentinel reminiscent of a time when the surrounding neighbourhood was only forest.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 so sad. It鈥檚 breaking everyone鈥檚 heart,鈥� says Clark.
