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<br /> co . ° o � � . y cu , � TREES Page ..� . � � 5 o cu ` � � Continued from Pa a i
<br /> w 8 c0 8 o ti ? something other than a box. If the site's. develop large, broad canopies. Many nar-
<br /> 04 '> b H 3 M1.-: 4 g' V existing soil outside of the building's foot- rowly columnar types of trees were planted '
<br /> b •n ° a a 3 al print is of good quality, all construction in downtown Eugene during past few ene durin the i
<br /> ;3 d activity should then be forbidden between. decades, /� with the mistaken idea that
<br /> QC A b a i o : °' w $ 4 the curb face and the broader- canopied trees would get "too big." ,
<br /> 3 y a 4 °: , o , proposed building to ensure that the soil in Unfortunately, these green exclamation
<br /> (:) b . ° o v w V ° this area is not disturbed. The quality and points (e.g., the columnar sugar maples
<br /> It co r 0 ,Q l' . volume of this soil are essential to the along Est 11th Avenue near the southeast ± A 5 f health of any future streetside plantings. If corner of 11th and Pearl) provide few envi d a c l l t • architects and developers can make room ronmental benefits compared to real trees.
<br /> ,� a , for parking areas for cars, they can learn to Bigger trees are better for business, too,
<br /> 4 E 0 - x .`i. = A • e ,° '5 . g.., • A' make room for the trees (and their roots) as they can be pruned up to permit passers-
<br /> ° - ,
<br /> • -g o g ,0 ;� u pon whose health our own health depends. by to see a stores facade, framed from
<br /> ��.�w> �o a� •Whendesi
<br /> designing for trees, group them above by a leafy canopy. (Visit the scarlet
<br /> .d, – ° 0 y w o together in choice areas of the site (with oaks on the east side of Oak Street, just
<br /> re) d • ` 5 4 z a E o - adequate space above and below ground, north of the Broadway intersection, to see
<br /> � ' 4 �. V 3 = " i a o and with good quality soil) rather than how nicely broad - spreading trees can in-
<br /> a ° 51 „? d •o a, scattering them across the site, evenly deed "fit" downtown.)
<br /> a , d n > 8 ° a g.1 _ 2 spa and in a straight line without re- • Leaves don't have to grow on trees to
<br /> 4 o . n , y d Bard to what kind of soil is underground. provide their many important environmen- '
<br /> 6 c „ :o. °a 2 . 4 ' ° ° a c ° 5 Examine the site before design develop- tal and aesthetic benefits. They can grow
<br /> V, 8 $ c, 9.1§, a 2 J 0 o ment begins (or at least befor construction on vines, too.
<br /> 1 z begins) to determine where the best soil is Many concrete and brick walls down- '
<br /> g V I , F o a 0 c o g a and what areas of the site will naturally town are just crying to be covered with '
<br /> CIL) ga a
<br /> gm . .S1 o d $ B A a d support healthy vegetation. vine (The infamous north wall of the Hult
<br /> g �, 1 • 4 �, $ 0 • Incorporate ample park strips (or Center comes to mind).
<br /> .�
<br /> I -5 g .� �, • '` planting strips ") of varying widths and Vines also effectively deter graffiti and ,
<br /> ° 4 ,. § g p1 d lengths (as the site permits) directly behind they can significantly lower heating and '
<br /> g c 2 1g
<br /> ,.. V .V, V b the curb. To prevent soil compaction from cooling costs for a building. (After we do
<br /> tit S 'w B v g R. r . pedestrians and errant vehicles in these the Hult, we could move on to cover the ,
<br /> og .o 6 � e „; areas, these planted area could be attrac- Eugene Water & Electric Board building i
<br /> • i3 `~o pi '. '0 0 o b 4 r. 4 IR a tively fenced, as they often are in Europe. with vines — in the spirit of energy conser-
<br /> IK ° ., (If downtown Zurich can make room for vation, of course!)
<br /> C f) l i g i 43 b ! i ' 1 l trees and protect the soil they grow in, so I had the opportunity to visit the Broad -
<br /> /J ,o ,..0 o o can Eugene.) way site with the city's urban forester sev
<br /> � Fenced park strips also improve pedes- eral months before the trees were cut.
<br /> ° $ ; 5 • ° trian safety as they better separate pedes- We agreed at that time that the progno-
<br /> CO '. , g a ° a . 1 ab al °' trians from auto traffic, and they discour- sis for the trees on the site's periphery was
<br /> E b Z ,$ l .E c E age pedestrians from crossing the street in not good, given the fact that most of these
<br /> I S the middle of the block. Such large ex
<br /> pans- w 0. , = � a � o , � �p g pans- trees' roots (which extended well behind
<br /> 8 o ° 0 0 oe A. _;, s es of soil and appropriate the sidewalks) would have to be cut to
<br /> .� 5 ; , a b c rig S g li groundcovers are essential for trees accommodate the building and its under-
<br /> B �, 0 N to grow well. ground parking garage.
<br /> o ,0 S 'E . 4 w o, ' 4 . ° Moreover, these areas reduce stormwa- And rather than watch the trees die a
<br /> a ° o 'e Ga ter run -off into the street, while helping to lingering death following construction, we
<br /> a 8 d g 8i g I l replenish natural aquifers which are often agreed to the trees removal, shook our
<br /> W aa :1111 B ° a 8 c much lowered in urban environments due heads in sadness, and moved on to other
<br /> w b �, o to extensive projects where our expertise might be more
<br /> Iwo* „ � , g o a pavement. influential.
<br /> �� ° o .a . a B • Forbid the use of steel tree grates and Now, following the loss of that site's
<br /> collars. The money spent on them ($1,000 or trees, Eugeneans are being assured that
<br /> , -4 c ms o cb E .� o more per unite is better spent the preps- dozens of new trees will be planted there.
<br /> ' w 0 ration of the planting planting Unfortunately, the prognosis for the new
<br /> 1 '~ , ? I o ,�, B I a of larger - caliper trees. trees is not good because their root growth
<br /> 1 M ost horticulturists and arborists agree will be limited to the area under the side-
<br /> / h a b B ti that such structures threaten rather than walk and, moreover, the soil there is being ,
<br /> 7: b 1 > t 1 . 4 protect trees. Unfortunately, many archi- ruined at this very moment by insensitive
<br /> p
<br /> a . , 0 �3 'g tects still specify these archaic instruments construction practices.
<br /> ° of torture. (For a sad example, see the co- To get an idea of what the future holds ,
<br /> O
<br /> S s c t a °�° a,,5 .° v ., lumnar red maples being strangled along for the new trees at the Broadway site, one
<br /> 1 - ' $ h e ee east
<br /> ettsside �of with k Street just south of the needs to
<br /> f loo 8th k
<br /> h an d ea than the southwest 1,
<br /> Ct E
<br /> � e 1 � ,
<br /> 'Cy • Many former park strips downtown These poor, stunted Norway maples
<br /> io w ' � ° y o as have over the years been paved, but the were planted over 20 years ago on a site
<br /> . 2 a
<br /> ' soil beneath them is still in excellent that was treated like we are now treating
<br /> ` 0 El b b � ° a , s , e condition. the Broadway and Charnel site.
<br /> CO) a For example, as recently as the late City staff, architects, and developers `
<br /> = ra g - g .0 a gi W b •
<br /> g 0 1950s, mature big leaf maples graced the need to consider implementing some of the
<br /> .0 ,t g �, .5 'gag now barren northeast corner of 10th and ideas presented here so that Eugene's
<br /> Pearl by the Greyhound station. The return downtown doesn't end up looking like Any '
<br /> Ct w q o a d . a o 2 ' a of such grand trees requires little more where, USA. '
<br /> O 3 1 Agar• ” a ° than the removal of the asphalt or concrete We deserve better, and we know how to
<br /> CD -1 t y 2 ,° ° g i 0 from the park strip area, and the planting do it. Let's make a concerted effort to act
<br /> ii o ' ° 0 and protection (as outlined in No. 3) of the as "green" as we talk when it comes to our
<br /> 0 C b A 9 area. natural environment and our community's r
<br /> CO 8 %L -0 c- _~ M • Plant trees that can eventufly much-touted "quality of lit." f}`� ggA l I,
<br /> tt 4) 0 0
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<br /> .4= 1 lail
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