Tempers Flare In Seattle After Historic Tree Is Chopped Down

Some neighbors in Ballard are a little fired up after one of their favorite trees is ripped down by one of their neighbors. The hub-bub started around January 21st when a new homeowner decided to tear out a monkey puzzle tree that was on the Southeast corner of 60th and 9th. Well, that didn't sit well with people that lived in the neighborhood for decades.

Marian Carson was sad to see the tree go.
"I cried....it was everybody in the neighborhood knew where it was, we used it as a guidance to get to where we were going," said Carson.

Word of the tree coming down spread through the block like wildfire. Many of the folks I talked with said the monkey puzzle tree was an icon for the East Ballard Community. But, you have to remember it was on private property.

Here is the big problem. The City of Seattle has a rule that's designed to protect unique and rare tree's like the monkey puzzle tree. Now, the homeowner could be facing a hefty fine of over $10,000. "Exceptional Trees" that are protected are historical ones that have ecological value and make the neighborhood pretty. The only way you can take down one of these big guys is get a permit and the OK from the city. Apparently, the homeowner didn't have either.

I talked with an arborist who says replacing that tree will be almost impossible. Even if you planted ten of them, it wouldn't do enough. Certified Arborist Scott Baker says this tree tussle might be the first of its kind for Seattle.

"It's the first time I know of a tree like this being removed where the city has come in and said you know we're going to do something about this," said Baker.

Most of the neighbors have been griping around the water cooler about what happened. Some neighbors like Shawn Donat believes it might take a while for the situation to cools off.

"Of course, I think there will be peace...eventually," said Donat.

The couple that chopped down the monkey puzzle tree bought the house about a month ago. I tried asking them why they decided to take the tree down but they didn't want to talk about.