Following Meeting With Angry Residents, Roosevelt Island Rivercross Coop Board Of Directors Reconsiders Cutting Down Courtyard Trees - Will Hire Independent Arborist To Evaluate Trees

The Roosevelt Island Rivercross Board Of Directors met with some angry shareholder residents last Tuesday evening to discuss the decision by the Directors (explained in this September 19 memo) to cut down 4 courtyard trees which the Board claimed to be:

Image Of Rivercross Courtyard Trees Planned To Be Cut Down

... a safety danger and block the views of some apartments negatively impacting their value....

Rivercross resident Ali Schwayri, President of the Roosevelt Island Tree Board, spoke for many other Rivercross residents and other members of the Roosevelt Island Community when he wrote this September 23 letter seeking help to stop the Trees from being cut down;

... IT IS UP TO YOU, OUR NEIGHBORS, TO WRITE, EMAIL AND COMPLAIN TO THE RIVERCROSS BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO STOP THIS ACT OF ARBORCIDE....

Apparently the efforts to stop the cutting down of the Rivercross courtyard trees worked, at least for now. Judy Berdy reports:

A packed room of Rivercross shareholders, met with the Board members last evening. The vast majority were distressed with the highhanded method used by the Board to decide quality of life matters.

After numerous comments the Board agreed to hire another arborist for an independent evaluation of the trees in question.

I thank Ali Schwayri for his efforts and for the work of our concerned neighbors that produced hundreds of petition signatures, many letters, e-mail, phone calls and letters.

Raye Schwartz adds that two of the four courtyard trees are Norway Maples:

... about to keel over which have roots precariously close to the building foundation with branches which are hanging close enough to break windows.

and a decision as to what do to with the trees will be made after consultation:

... with a certified, non-partial arborist...

The Rivercross Board  provided this memo that was sent to shareholders informing them of the Board's decision to hire a third arborist to render an opinion about the courtyard trees and noted the residents activism on the tree issue is a reminder why Rivercross is a great place to live.