Vancouver residents shocked by sudden cutting down of beloved Gastown trees
Vancouverites are speaking out about the sudden removal of several trees in one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods, and they worry that more may be cut down soon.
Gastown residents Lydia Tang and Lyle Wagner contacted Daily Hive with photos of stumps along Water Street where trees used to be.
“It is an issue that has upset me and other Gastown residents,” said Tang. Most recently, we noticed the beloved Love Tree was missing from our landscape, leaving Maple Tree Square with fewer and fewer trees.
“We have had no notice of this, nor does it seem we have any say in the matter. My own apartment looks out upon one of these trees, which I fear is next on the chopping block.”
Lydia Tang
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Tang added that while she understands why tree removals are sometimes necessary, she and other neighbourhood residents want to preserve the little flora that does exist in Gastown.
“Would we cut down the beautiful cherry blossoms in David Lam Park? Or the trees that line Burnaby Heights that are lit up for the holidays? Why would this be any different?”
According to Walley Wargolet, Executive Director of the Gastown Business Improvement Society, the trees were scheduled to be removed for almost two years due to their poor health and potential safety issues. However, three more trees were removed than originally proposed.
Lydia Tang
“We are still waiting on details about when the stumps will be removed and the replacement plan, but hoping to have those details over the next few weeks as we are planning a meeting with the City of Vancouver Urban Forestry Team to discuss,” Wargolet explained.
The City of Vancouver also confirmed that the work on Water Street was a scheduled removal of dead and high-risk trees.
“The first phase of removals was completed last year, and this year’s work was completed before peak tourist season,” the City added.
For Gastown residents like Wagner, replacing the trees and protecting the remaining ones in the neighbourhood cannot happen soon enough.
“Some beautiful trees on Maple Tree Square and further along Water, Powell, Carall, and Cordova might be cut,” said Wagner. Since there was no warning for these, we fear that the city will target others.
“The importance of these trees to the character of Gastown cannot be overstated. As it’s a highly urban environment with little green space, these mature trees are appreciated by residents and tourists alike, particularly in their namesake square, but elsewhere throughout the neighbourhood. These trees cannot just be replaced.”