Trees: So Out Of Fashion This Season

Fashion and nature, seems those two are always at odds. To keep the battle lines clear, the folks behind Fashion Week decided to "murder" dozens of gorgeous trees at Lincoln Center to make way for their giant white tents. But before you put on your sandwich board and protest the arborcide, according to the Daily News, 56 trees of those trees were deemed dead or declining—11 others were transplanted—so perhaps this time around fashion saved some lives? Not so fast...

One landscape architect, Ken Smith, told the paper, "For urban trees, they were in good condition. They were alive and they were providing shade. It was a nice grove. It's really sad to see a landscape of [renowned landscape architect Dan Kiley] destroyed in New York City, cultural capital, without due discussion."

Other anonymous sources claimed that the trees were stressed due to not having enough water; "You don't destroy them. You water them." And Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito, head of the Council's Park & Recs Committee, called the move "outrageous," and said it didn't jibe with the mayor's crusade to plant more trees in the city.

In case you want to know who really has the ~~blood~~ sap on their hands, Councilwoman Gale Brewer concurred that the trees were moved "in part because of Fashion Week—for the tents." Allegedly, however, 100 new trees have been planted near Lincoln Center, and 340 more are promised in Damrosch Park and surrounding streets.

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By Jen Carlson in News on September 10, 2010 10:03 AM

Comments [rss]

landscaper

Killing the trees is tragic, but it's also tragic that a historic landscape by one of America's most important 20th century landscape architects was destroyed. Lincoln Center would never consider ripping out their buildings, designed by important architects. Why would they destroy a park by a major designer? Ignorance--or crass commercialism?

Design Squish

That was my favorite part of Lincoln center! I went to high school nearby there. It was so nice to sit there after classes, enjoy trees. Why nobody watered the trees? Now I am definitely not going to the Fashion week! Not even going to look at the website.

John L

The rich can do whatever they want in this city.

From NYC.GOV:

"It is illegal and punishable by law for citizens to damage, destroy, perform unauthorized tree work or otherwise harm a street tree or park tree.

No work may be performed on or within 50 feet of a street tree without a Tree Work Permit from Parks. Unpermitted work can lead to serious tree damage. Anyone caught removing or otherwise harming a tree should be reported immediately. Violations are misdemeanors punishable by a fine not to exceed $15,000 and/or imprisonment for up to one year. To report illegal tree damage, call 311 or use our forestry service request system."

http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_permits_and_applications/forestry_permits.html#commboard

I'm guessing these trees don't fall under the city's jurisdiction or they had the proper permits or something.

Either way removing trees for tents for an event that lasts a few days is ridiculous.

sidenote

I think of it as what is more important - a few dying trees or an international event that brings the city millions in business and pays for most of the trees to be replanted or moved. Or are you just completely unwilling to accept there might be a justifiable reason to cut them down?

John L

Sorry I forgot that Fashion Week was contingent on these trains being taken down because of course we all know that nobody would have attended this international event if those trees were still there.

And know I'm willing to accept that there might be a "justifiable reason," I just haven't heard one yet. The trees were in the way of their tents so they removed them, that's not a justifiable reason to me.

John L

oops meant to say "trees being taken down" not trains

grizzzly

No one gets pissed when Bryant Park, or any number of other places, are routinely destroyed and re-sodded. trees in this context get planted, removed, and re-planted by institutions with money like cut flowers, and in Lincoln Center they will always be subject to the whims of design. If they pay to plant hundreds of permanent street and park trees elsewhere, it's a net benefit.

sidenote

Seems like an overreaction to me given the city's overall planting campaign. I'm actually more surprised the city went to the trouble to move a few rather than chucking all of them in the chipper.