For starters, workers removed two trees from the north side of St. Mark's Place.
However, the developers had permission to do so — thanks to two city agencies.
A spokesperson from Councilmember Carlina Rivera's office, who looked into the situation, told us that the NYC Parks Central Forestry confirmed these removals were approved by the city.
According to the spokesperson, the DOT and MTA would not allow the placement of a crane on Third Avenue during construction. So the developers need to use the St. Mark's Place side for the staging and placement of the crane. Unfortunately, the two trees were in the way.
"The applicant [developer] will be planting four trees on-site, and they also paid Parks to plant three offsite trees," per the spokesperson.
The developer, Real Estate Equities Corp. (REEC), picked up the 99-year leasehold for the corner lot for nearly $150 million in November 2017. The previous assemblage, which included retail tenants such as Korilla BBQ, the Continental and McDonald's, was demolished in 2019.
Regardless, the tree was alive, living and minding it's own business.
ReplyDeleteKilling a healthy good tree = Murder !
Of course, the City will allow the cutting down of trees for large construction projects how could City officials allow any trees to dare to get in the way of real estate development in the City.
ReplyDeleteAgree with @ 8:09 tree was just minding it's own business, providing much needed oxygen for us.
ReplyDeleteNot surprising as the city just wiped out East River Park's 1000+ trees.
ReplyDeleteThat tree was a jerk but it didn’t deserve this
ReplyDeleteOf course the City approved cutting down the trees. They love to cut down trees. Much better to cut them down than possibly block any traffic down Third Avenue for a second, god forbid. (Plus, screw all those pedestrians who use St. Mark's Place a lot more than anyone walks down Third Avenue). If you think this City has changed much since Moses and the 1950s, you'd be wrong!
ReplyDeleteIt's called a net gain.
ReplyDeleteCome on, people. Yes a living tree was killed but they are replacing it with more trees and this building will ultimately lead to more tax revenue for the city. It's a net positive in the long run.
ReplyDeleteEveryone here lives in a tree-house apparently
ReplyDeleteThey are planting more trees. I'd generally be in favor of blocking Third Ave - I'd be in favor of turning it into a pedestrian mall but that's just me - but a net gain of trees and a developer payout doesn't sound like a travesty. Which is unusual and welcome.
ReplyDeleteThe iconic gateway to the East Village, Astor Place, was destroyed by Mayor Bloomberg. Whatever happens with this corner it can't make it that much worse.
ReplyDeleteThey should halt construction and plant trees in the entire lot. As far as them saying they will be planting new trees, I’ll believe it when I see it.
ReplyDelete@6:10 PM
ReplyDeleteI'm sure the new trees are subcontracted out and in writing. For a building this size that's a not even a rounding error.
I'm with you regarding plant trees on the whole lot but that's not New York City and has never been New York City. Real estate is the money here and money is a religion.
Here in Queens dead trees are just left to fall apart, endanger folks,, + make US remove debris as we pass!
ReplyDelete