CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Some residents in Chicago’s Roscoe Village neighborhood are fighting to save their trees.
Those who live at the Roscoe Village Pencil Factory Lofts were upset to learn that building renovations would include the removal of three large crabapple trees.
“I think we need to hang on to every piece of beauty that we have and this is one little piece on our corner here and it’s provided great pleasure to the neighborhood,” said Sidney Friedman, a resident of the building for the last 27 years.
Friedman told WBBM Newsradio the building’s condo board voted Monday to remove the trees along the west lawn, citing a fungal infection known as ‘apple scab’.
Other residents brought in their own arborist who said otherwise.
“They said that if these trees have lasted as long as they have, which is now some 30 years, there’s a good likelihood that they’ll last another 20-30 years without being affected by it,” Friedman added.
Another challenge is the decking that’s being added to the west lawn. The condo board expressed concern the machinery could damage the roots of the trees.
Friedman, who works in real estate, said it’s possible for the machinery to work around the trees.
Roughly 40 of the building’s 134 units have signed a petition asking the board to reverse its decision.
“We don’t want to go any legal route that gets messy, but we do want to try to appeal to better senses,” Friedman said. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. In fact, it’s not just not broke, they’re still blossoming gorgeous blooms and enjoyed.”
The trees are scheduled to come down as early as next week.
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