The abundant ivy on the east-facing wall that frames the De Colores Community Yard & Cultural Center on Eighth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C won't be around for much longer.
A volunteer gardener at De Colores explained that the ivy has been obscuring some windows at 309 E. Eighth St. and has been harboring an untold number of pests. ("Lots of bugs, rodents, squirrels, bees, wasps, birds — you name it.")
In addition, parts of the wall that haven't been covered with ivy are also damaged, so there's some hope that the landlord (Steve Croman) of the gut-renovated building will make some repairs on the exterior.
The ivy is nearly 3-feet thick in areas and is nearly 60-feet high.
"The main roots — the size of a tree trunk — have been cut and it will probably start dying soon," the volunteer gardener said. "People love the ivy and stop and take pictures of it all the time, so here's your last chance."
4 comments:
People don't realize that in most areas, ivy is an invasive (non-native) vine and no matter how beautiful it is, can be destructive.
It may be picturesque but if you live in the building the ivy is a habitat for bees, mosquitoes, ants, flies, spiders, mice and rats. The ivy secretes a corrosive substance that destroys the brick while allowing it to attach to it. Good riddance!
It's beautiful to look at but surprisingly destructive to buildings. It is also surprisingly hard to take down.
I think most buildings are habitats for destructive cretins ... and I'm talking about the paying occupants; the beautiful/cool people who pay several grand a month for a closet and who leave trash in their hallways, toss cigarette butts out their window, can't be bothered to lift a garbage can lid, and who leave their stomach contents on your front stoop.
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