The giant elm tree at Lake and Emerson, a block from my house, is marked for removal. I suppose some people will blame it on the new hotel's construction. It might be, but it also might be that it has simply run out of room here in the city.It is weird to say you've enjoyed a tree but this one has been impressive and graces the neighborhood. It will be missed.
2 comments:
The months of noise and stress as a result of the Moxy construction made it vulnerable to disease. Elm trees are long lived (up to 400 years) and that tree could easily have lasted another 100 years. The construction definitely played a part in hastening her deterioration, in my opinion. We all referred to her as the 'Mother Tree' of the neighborhood.
This is a terrible loss for the community: Habitat and food for what's left of our urban wildlife is only the beginning. A tree of that age and size absorbs an enormous variety of CO2, pollutants, particulates and other harmful gasses from the city's air and generously breathes out oxygen for all the residents and passers by to enjoy. According to NC State University 'one large tree can supply a day's worth of oxygen for FOUR people.' Another of her great gifts has always been most noticeable in the heat of summer (like today) and that is the cooling effect that the shade of her canopy provides when first turning right off Lake and heading south on Emerson.
These older trees are not easily replaced. They are the closest thing we have in the city to 'old growth.' What kind of amenity does the Moxy Hotel offer the neighborhood in comparison to the loss of this magnificent 100 year old Elm? The question answers itself. Perhaps we should ask Lisa Bender.
Kay Nygaard Graham
3037 Emerson Ave. S
always hard to lose a tree, but I try to look at it as a possibility to start something new for my generation. I did that with both my cherry tree, a river birch in the yard and now a new lovely London Plane on my boulevard.
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