The city of Los Angeles’ plan to remove 18 full-grown ficus trees on Cherokee Avenue remains on hold while the Bureau of Street Services takes another look at potential ways to save the trees.

Eighteen ficus trees on Cherokee Avenue will remain while the Bureau of Street Services examines alternatives to removing them so sidewalks can be repaired. (photo by Edwin Folven)

The ficuses were scheduled to be cut down last spring because their roots have damaged adjacent sidewalks that the city plans to repair under its Safe Sidewalks LA program. United Neighborhoods for Los Angeles, a community organization that monitors city planning, filed a lawsuit challenging the city’s Safe Sidewalks LA program, placing the tree removal project on hold. UNLA contends an environmental impact report should be conducted for the sidewalk repairs before any trees are removed.

On Oct. 16, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Richard Fruin denied UNLA’s appeal for an injunction that would have stopped the tree removal while litigation proceeds. The matter was also considered on Oct. 17 by the City Council’s public works committee, which also denied an appeal to block the tree removal.

Councilman David Ryu, 4th District, asked the Bureau of Street Services earlier this year to look at alternatives that would allow the sidewalks to be repaired without removing the trees, but the bureau determined that was not possible. On Oct. 17, Ryu announced that the new general manager of the Bureau of Street Services, Adel H. Hagekhalil, agreed to take another look at the project. A new determination on whether alternatives can be used is expected in approximately 30 days.

“Trees are not a liability, or a problem to be managed – they are a living, breathing part of our city,” Ryu said. “It is clear that the sidewalks on Cherokee are in dire need of repair, but building safer sidewalks and protecting our urban forest should not be a zero-sum game. We need to rethink how we value our street trees, and consider them as vital parts of building quality streets and a livable city. I’m thrilled that the Bureau of Street Services will look at alternative sidewalk repair for Cherokee Avenue that could save these trees. Moving forward, we need to fix this process from top to bottom.”

UNLA president Casey Maddren said the judge and committee’s denials were a setback but he is grateful the Bureau of Street Services will reexamine the tree removal.

“We are sorry the appeal was denied but are glad that the Bureau of Street Services and Mr. Hagekhalil are listening,” Maddren said. “We are not saying don’t fix the sidewalks. We want an environmental impact report (on the Safe Sidewalks LA program) to be conducted before the trees are removed.”

Maddren said UNLA’s attorneys are considering the next step with litigation, possibly an appeal to a higher court. He remains hopeful that a compromise can be reached.

Ryu also introduced motions on Oct. 17 relating to the tree removal process. The councilman asked that city staff report on strategies for protecting the city’s urban canopy, as well as the tree replacement policy. City policy currently calls for two trees to be planted for every one removed. On Cherokee Avenue, the city was planning to plant pink trumpet trees.

Diana Zogran, chair of the environmental health committee for the Neighborhood Council Sustainability Council, said the decision to reconsider the Cherokee Avenue tree removal was good, but reforms to the overall urban forestry program are needed. The city should look at alternatives such as creating sidewalk ramps over roots that could preclude trees from being removed. She added that an EIR is also imperative for the sidewalk repair program.

“I am very hopeful that this new [Bureau of Street Services] director is sincere. The city is willing to take another look because of him, and hopefully that will bring a new vision for that bureau,” Zogran said. “There is a lot of opportunity and a lot of work to be done. No mature trees should be cut down until an EIR is done.”