NEWS PHOTO COLLIN GALLANT Crews clear trees from in front of an apartment block at 89 Collins Cres. on Tuesday, March 26, 2019. Owner, Avenue Living, says the trees were damaging the building's foundations and six required removal. It is considering replanting trees with less problematic root systems.
Residents of eastern Crestwood and patrons of nearby Leinweber Park are taking issue with a major landlord cutting down trees at an apartment complex it owns.
Crews began removing mature spruce trees alongside the rental building at 89 Collins Cres. on behalf of Avenue Living, which says the trees were damaging the building and needed to be removed.
Of 10 trees that surrounded the property, six will be taken out leaving just one in the rear and three in the front.
“(They) were causing structural damage to the foundation of the building,” stated Avenue Living president Zora Roberts in an emailed response to News questions.
“They were also causing problems with the plumbing, so unfortunately we have to cut down six trees,”
Several residents contacted the News on Tuesday morning, stating their fear that the company was being thoughtless in cutting down the evergreens that add to the neighbourhood and street scape. Roberts said her the company is considering planting new tree species with less problematic root systems. That work, including new flower beds and plant types, will occur later this spring. Crews are currently installing new balcony railings at the building.
Some Hatters have complained that since heavy windstorms several years ago, property owners are too cavalier in removing mature trees that are sound, but could cause worry.
Roberts said that’s not the case.
“We wanted to keep them, but their roots were just too invasive,” she said.
