Neighbors Are Divided Over Dozens Of Trees Being Chopped Down In Redmond

REDMOND - A major construction project in Redmond is dividing tree lovers and bicyclists. The City is cutting down dozens of trees so crews can build a new sidewalk and bike lane. Many people are angry over the trees getting chopped up, but some environmentally friendly people say it's a worthy sacrifice for public safety.

Limb by limb, branch after branch, 50 years of history is getting chopped down and chewed up in Redmond and Charles Graves is pretty ticked off about it. He's losing the trees by his business on Northeast 90th Street.

"It's a very nice neighborhood I mean when you have all the foliage and birds and squirrels running around in these trees their homes are gone now," said Graves.

The City of Redmond is removing 33 large Maple Trees to make way for that new sidewalk and bike lane. The City says the project is about improving safety but, many people think ripping out these trees isn't worth it.

Mike Paul who is the Construction Division Manager for the City of Redmond says there was nothing the city could do to save the trees.

"And, unfortunately the way the ground is mounded in that location, proximity to the businesses we simply had to take the trees out to get the sidewalk in," said Paul.

This tree controversy is dividing "green" friendly people; even Victoria Cary who is working with the tree removal crew is getting hassled.

"Oh, they come by they slow down they yell out their windows are you really taking the trees down, really, they shake their heads at us give us dirty looks," said Cary.

While neighbors may be yelling some bicyclists like Seth Gray and pedestrians like Nancy Churchill say take the trees down.

"Having another lane might help give a little more room let you pass somebody that's always really nice it's frustrating getting stuck behind someone," said Gray.

"Well, I think it will improve safety for people that walk through this area," said Churchill.

The City says it was able to save 15 trees from being chain-sawed and it plans to plant another 23. That does make Seth Gray feel a bit better about the trees.

"You know you can always replace them with little trees, they always grow," said Gray.

But, Charles Graves says he doesn't have decades to see those little trees grow, he wishes the City would have left things alone.

"It's sad to see definitely doesn't have the same atmosphere as it did before," said Graves.

The City says the sidewalk and bike lane project should be completed by the end of the year. The last of those big maple trees on Northeast 90th Street will be cut down Wednesday.