Originally published April 14, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified April 14, 2007 at 2:02 AM
Diseased poplars are being replaced along Medina street
A long line of signature, 75-year-old trees in Medina is being removed because of disease. The city began to take out the tall, skinny poplars...
Seattle Times Eastside bureau
A long line of signature, 75-year-old trees in Medina is being removed because of disease.
The city began to take out the tall, skinny poplars this month, and several gaps can already be seen in the colonnade along 84th Avenue Northeast.
The street is the primary entryway off Highway 520 to Medina and Clyde Hill, and the trees were landmarks for residents, said Mark Weinberg, Medina city manager.
"It's really a shame," he said.
The 116 trees, including a handful on Northeast 24th Street, will be replaced by 39 Bowhall maple trees. The maples will be around 20 feet tall at first but will grow to about 50 feet, with foliage larger than the poplars, spreading about 25 feet.
The city has discussed replacing or trimming the poplars for several years, since some branches fell off and the trees were in poor health. Arborists confirmed that the trees have canker disease and should be removed.
The City Council approved the tree-removal contract last month on a 4-3 vote. Deputy Mayor Robert Rudolph, Councilwoman Katie Phelps and Councilmen Pete Vall-Spinosa and Jim Lawrence voted yes. Mayor Miles Adam and Councilmen Lucius Biglow and Drew Blazey voted no.
Heija Nunn, a member of the city parks board, said the young maples are a "pale replacement" and that more lush, attractive trees should have been chosen.
The trees run along the edge of the Overlake Golf & Country Club.
The removal and replacement will cost $244,000, with the club pitching in $80,000 of that amount, Weinberg said.
The city will remove 65 poplars this month and replace them with 22 maples. To ease the transition, the remaining trees will be removed and replaced at some point over the next three years.
Ashley Bach: 206-464-2567 or abach@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company
Arson suspect has long history of setting fires
Band of advocates, activists now McGinn's likely insiders
Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
Kirkland annex 'yes' could be slipping away
Licata looks at boosting traffic-ticket revenue

Opening day at Crystal Mountain
Skiers crowded the slopes at Crystal Mountain for one of the resort's earliest openings.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Homeless man, 46, arrested in Greenwood arsons
- KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
- Steve Kelley | ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
- Seattle U. Men's Hoops | Big recruit goes from Huskies to Redhawks
- Razor found in muffin an accident, 'mortified' baker says
- Mariners sign Jack Wilson to 2-year contract
- Suspect's family shaken by slaying of police officer
- Mountlake Terrace woman reports razor in muffin
- Ivar's undersea billboards a hoax devised as marketing ploy
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
631 - Seattle man to pack a pistol into community center to protest mayor's ban
202 - Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
177 - GOP clueless as families struggle with health care
166 - KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
134 - Mariners sign Jack Wilson to 2-year contract
120 - Prosecutor weighs death penalty in police slaying
103 - Wright State game thread
97 - Person of interest in custody in connection with Greenwood arsons
95 - Rang says Locker not ready for NFL
85
- Light rail to airport to begin Dec. 19
- Homeless man, 46, arrested in Greenwood arsons
- Ivar's undersea billboards a hoax devised as marketing ploy
- Steve Kelley | ESPN's Bill Simmons gets us: He hates Clay Bennett, too
- Washington in race for federal education funds
- KVI talk radio host off the air as of Thursday
- Police investigate videotaped arrest
- Goodwill's Glitter Sale is Nov. 14-15
- Boeing: 787 fix is complete on first plane
- Seattle U. Men's Hoops | Big recruit goes from Huskies to Redhawks








