When You Really Hate Your Neighbor

There's something charming about arguments between neighbors, or in this case, between a resident and the developer next door. The Daily News had a huge picture of an apartment buliding in construction, notable for the fact that the structure is being built around a tree - a real, live tree. John Schwing and ABA Management were unable to reach on agreement over a tree that is on Schwing's property but veers onto the land where ABA is putting up an apartment buildling (which will fit the entire lot). ABA claims that Schwing wanted $20,000 for the tree, so they decided to build around it.

The roots of the 1-foot-diameter tree are sliced in half, a layer of cement is slathered up to the bark and the wooden joists on the new building's second floor are built around a spreading branch. Another tree farther back on the lot is also partially encased in the wall.

The Department of Buildings is going to investigate, because they don't like live trees in walls. It does sound like a welcome door for infestation - and bad drafts. But we have to hand it to ABA - that's certainly brinksmanship.

And since one might say this building is hugging a tree, we suggest you check out Treehugger.

Photograph from the Daily News

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on February 8, 2006 5:16 PM

Comments [rss]

rev pays

Yeah, those cinder block and cement buildings do look ugly.

Anyway, it deviated from the submitted plans to DOB so the inspector will probably have the owner correct it.

BD

It would be cool to have a tree growing through your house - but with the roots sliced in half and concrete up to the bark - that tree will be dead in no time....another one bites the dust. Thanks, ABA.

Toby

This should make an intresting adaptation into an episode of Law & Order.

MT

I think it might be kind of cool to have a tree growing through your house.

#7 Flushing

Unfortunately ABA is from Flushing, where it seems like all new housing construction is void of greenery. Quite sad to see the old houses go down for such austere, harsh concrete blocks of housing.