Roosevelt Island Resident Asks Why Is Rivercross Lawn Tree Being Cut Down Today - RIOC Conducting Extensive Island Wide Tree Pruning And Dead Tree Removal This Week

Roosevelt Island residents care passionately about their trees. This afternoon, a Roosevelt Island resident observed this Tree being cut down on the Rivercross Lawn

and wanted to know why?

I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Information Office Alonza Robertson:

A Rivercross resident just asked why a tree is currently being cut down on Rivercross lawn.

Is this being done by RIOC or Rivercross.

Any explanation?

Mr Roberson replied:

It’s part of tree pruning work being done by RIOC.

Crews are conducting extensive tree pruning and removing dead trees at Southpoint Park, the Rivercross Lawn and Capobianco Field. Safety areas are set up around the work zones.

(I’d originally set out an advisory about this on September 14).

Mr Roberson added:

BTW, The dead tree at Rivercross a Norway Maple Leaf. We are looking to replace it.

Below is the September 14 RIOC Tree Pruning advisory:

Beginning Monday, September 17 until Monday, September 24 crews will be conducting extensive tree pruning and removing dead trees at Southpoint Park, the Rivercross Lawn and Capobianco Field. Safety areas will be set up around the work zones.

At this time, we do not anticipate any major road or sidewalk closures.

UPDATE 9/27 - Here's what remains of one of the Rivercross Lawn Trees cut down yesterday.

A long time Roosevelt Island resident reacts to the Trees being cut down:

This is heartbreaking. When RIOC's war on our island trees will stop?

I've been observing the mass destruction of our island's trees for the last 16 years. I was hoping RIOC would start repairing the devastation they created. But no! It is just getting worse.

The 2 large OAK trees in the middle of the green lawn South of Rivercross near the Meditation Steps were just chopped down.

They were healthy trees that previous generations left to us to enjoy. Residents and visitors have been resting during the summer in the shade of those old beautiful trees.

Birds were nesting in its brunches, families of squirrels lived there for generations. And now they are gone!

As many, many other trees we used to enjoy along Main Street, along the river and in our yards and parks. When are they going to be replaced? Our future generation has been deprived of those good trees, as it takes 50 plus years to grow a tree.

I have a lot of questions to RIOC:

• Who makes a decision a out which tree has to be cut down?
• Does RIOC have an arborist expert? If yes,
• Is this expert accountable? Can we see reports? Contractors’ report??
• What about residents’ opinions, feelings, attachments, sentiments?
• Are they just cutting trees to reduce the cost of maintenance? It is cheaper for them to cut the grass than take care of brunches.
• Do you call it tree maintenance? It is a holocaust!!
• What about migrating birds?!? We are in the middle of the Atlantic Flyway and there soon will be no trees for birds to rest!
• When are the residents going to speak up aloud their concerns??o
• How many trees were planted to replace the trees cut down? Look along the Main Street: all the tree patches are planted with flowers, not trees.
• Are we getting trees replaced? The same type that was cut down? When is it going to happen?
• Shall the residents organize and re-plant trees themselves and stand guard to them?

It is time for residents to hold RIOC accountable for this horrible environmental damage on our island!

This trees massacre should stop now! And new trees must be re-planted ASAP!

Long time and a highly concerned resident.

UPDATE 9/28 - RIOC issued the following statement this evening:

American sweetgums are among the favorites to replace two dying Norway Maple trees that were removed Thursday from the lawn south of the Rivercross co-op at 531 Main Street.
 

The low-maintenance, deciduous shade tree’s scientific name is Liquidambar styraciflua. It often exudes an aromatic balsam/gum that some describe as liquid amber; thus, its common name of sweetgum. The medium-sized to large tree typically grows anywhere from 50–70 feet tall with trunks measuring two-to-three feet in diameter. The trees, which have a brilliant Fall leaf mixture of yellows, oranges, purples and reds, can live to 400 years.

Red oaks are also being considered as replacements. It is believed both species would grow well in this lawn area. The schedule and exact location for the replacement planning has yet to be finalized.

(Do you have some suggestions on what type of trees should be planted on the lawn as replacements? Email your thoughts to the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation c/o Alonza Robertson, alonza.robertson@rioc.ny.gov.)

An ISA-certified arborist did a recent health survey of Roosevelt Island trees at Southpoint Park, Capobianco Field and the lawn near Rivercross. The Mount Vernon-based tree expert was tasked, by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, with identifying dead or declining trees that posed safety hazards.

Two Norway maples, both longtime fixtures at the Rivercross lawn area, were found to be in serious declining health with more than 60 percent of the limbs in the trees’ crowns dead, presenting a major safety hazard to anyone located in the spaces under the trees. Norway maples have a reputation for falling branches and limbs as the tree weakens.

In addition to the dead limbs and subsequent safety hazard, the arborist also found that the trees showed:

• Evidence of stress
• Insect (bores) activity
• Large amounts of deadwood
• Stress cracks along the base of tree
• Weak structure

There is no spray or alternative treatment that would have reversed the condition as their root systems – which tend to grow close to the ground surface – also were girdling or strangling the trees with its own roots.

“We have next weekend’s Fall for Arts Festival taking place on the lawn where the two dead trees were located and we wanted to make sure the hazardous trees were removed prior to the event for safety reasons. The other trees in the area have received pruning as well to remove any other dead branches,” said Susan Rosenthal, RIOC’s president and CEO.

Update On Roosevelt Island Rivercross Coop Cutting Down 4 Courtyard Trees - After Consultation With Arborists, Coop Board Decides Only 1 Tree Coming Down

Reported previously on the September 19 decision by the Roosevelt Island Rivercross Coop Board of Directors to cut down 4 courtyard trees which the Board claimed to be:

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

Image Of Rivercross Courtyard Trees

which led to claims of "arborcide" by some residents objecting to the removal of the trees.

... Roosevelt Island Tree Board President and Rivercross resident Ali Schwaryi sent this September 23 letter to Rivercross shareholders urging them to attend Rivercross Board of Directors meeting tonight and tell the Rivercross Directors to stop the arborcide of the 4 courtyard trees.... 

On October 8 reported:

... 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....

On November 14, based upon recommendations from consulting Arborists, the Rivercross Coop Board Of Directors decided to cut down only one of the 4 interior courtyard trees originally planned to be removed. According to this November 14 memo from the Rivercross Board to Rivercross residents:

In our last Memorandum dated October 17, we advised that three independent certified consulting arborists would be retained to examine the health and safety of the two Norway Maple trees in the Rivercross interior courtyard. Their reports are in and the following are a summary of their conclusions:

The more northerly of the trees (smaller tree) has severe "cankers, indicating dead spots combined with an extensive fungus and internal decay (squirrel living inside). There are no treatments to stop the decay and the tree poses an imminent threat and should be removed.

The more southerly of the trees (larger tree) has issues as well including decay and weakening of the wood both inside and out. While the tree does not pose an imminent risk, it should have new safety cabling installed and be closely monitored for signs of further decay.

Management will have the tree maintenance company schedule the removal of the northerly tree as soon as possible, while also installing new cabling on the southerly tree.

The Board intends to continue the services of a consulting arborist on an ongoing basis.

Based on the terms of the contracts with the arborists, we cannot distribute copies of their reports but you may review them in the Management Office.

Here's a copy of the Rivercross Board memo.

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.

President Of Roosevelt Island Tree Board Urges Rivercross Shareholders To Attend Tonight's Coop Board Meeting And Tell Directors To Stop The Arborcide Of Healthy Courtyard Trees For The God Of Real Estate

An update of the September 22 post regarding Rivercross Coop Board Of Directors decision to cut down 4 healthy courtyard trees.

Image Of Rivercross Courtyard Trees Planned To Be Cut Down

As previously reported:

The Roosevelt Island Rivercross Coop Board Of Directors informed shareholder residents of the building that 4 very tall courtyard trees (almost 9 stories high) planted before the building was constructed over 38 years ago will soon be removed. According to a September 19 memo from the Board of Directors the trees are a safety danger and block the views of some apartments negatively impacting their value. The memo also states that the trees will be replaced by 5 cherry trees and accompanying shrubbery....

and:

... I am told that some residents are extremely upset by the Rivercross Board Of Directors decision to remove these trees describing it as "arborcide".

Roosevelt Island Tree Board President and Rivercross resident Ali Schwaryi sent this September 23 letter to Rivercross shareholders urging them to attend Rivercross Board of Directors meeting tonight and tell the Rivercross Directors to stop the arborcide of the 4 courtyard trees.  Here is the transcript of the letter pictured below:

Dear Neighbors,

My name is Ali Schwaryi and I am writing in opposition to the Rivercross Board's decision to cut down four great trees in the inner courtyard (memo dated Sept. 19. Replacement of Trees")"

I have been a Rivercross resident since 1977 and as president of the Parks Committee, and currently the Tree Board. I and other members have worked tirelessly to plant about 150 trees and to save some great, mature trees from destruction by developers.

The Board's reasons for cutting down those four trees (two London Plane and two Norway Maple) are not convincing, even BOGUS in my opinion.

Reason 1: " The trees are big and a potential danger. In case of another hurricane such as Sandy to the Blue Wing and the Child School".
Fact: The Trees are healthy and have already survived hurricane Sandy with no damage to the trees, the Blue Wing or the Child School. They are surrounded on three sides by the building and are protected from the effects of high wind.

Reason 2: "The trees obscure the views of some apartments and negatively impact the value of those apartments."
Fact: The trees PARTIALLY affect the views of some apartments for only about 5 months per year but for the remaining 7 months when the trees are leafless, the views are unobstructed. Some residents I have discussed this with love having both views (trees and river/cityscape) at different times.

There are about 18 big trees on the south, west and north sides of Rivercross, which are closer to the building and have the same effect on views. ARE WE TO EXPECT THE BOARD TO ORDER THE DESTRUCTION OF THOSE TREES IN THE FUTURE? Are we setting a bad precedent?

Reason3: "The trees are impacting the value of the apartments affected".
Fact: Everyone knows that trees enhance property values by providing natural beauty and shade, and by minimizing the effects of hot weather.

Reason 4: "We are not just removing trees, we are replacing them with Kwanzan Cherry trees and flowering shrubs".
Fact: The Board wants you to accept cutting down four big trees, some as old as 75 years, and replacing them with five Cherry trees and some shrubs that will not do well in that location because of limited sunlight. The Norway Maples predated the construction of our building by many years i.e. they were here first and deserve to live even if they partially obstruct the views of some for part of the year.

The trees in question can be intelligently pruned (not topped) to improve the views of those affected. The real reason for cutting them down, in my opinion, is disregard by some for our natural surroundings, ignorance about the value of trees and placing the "God of Real Estate" above all.

As president of the Tree Board, I and other members will do everything in our power to inform the residents of Rivercross about this important issue.

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

Come to the next Rivercross Board meeting on October 7, 531 Community Room 8 PM and speak against their decision and let your voices be heard.

Sincerely Dr. Ali.N. Schwaryi, President of Tree Board with support form Dr. Kathie Grimm and Ms. Fay Christian Tree Board members.

Rivercross resident Dr. Kathie Grimm added:

Dear Fellow Share Holders, This is a condensed letter I sent to the board members and management on Sunday. The issue of cuttting the trees down has previously been presented to the board and voted down. A former board member suggested a petition to see how the building feels in general about the trees. Another former board member suggested that all those who face the court yard be questioned for their opinions. This is a very controversial issue and unhappy share holders need to let their opions known to the board.

September 20, 2014,

Dear Rivercross Board Members,

Over the years I have always appreciated and supported the good work that the Rivercross Board does. However, yesterday while I was still busy at work, I received two distressed calls about the recent decision to cut down four trees....

..As you know many people on Roosevelt Island are passionate about trees and for good reason. The trees are a big reason for making this such a special place. Indeed one of the reasons I moved to apartment ... was because of the trees when I lived in ..., I loved the trees outside my window.

I have been on the Tree Board with Dr. Schwaryi, Faye Christian and Nurity Marcus for years. Dr. Schwaryi is extremely knowledgeable about trees and has served as a consultant to RIOC and Cornell-Technion as well as Hudson Related. It is his opinion that these mature trees do not represent a danger to our building and indeed as I walked around the building today, there are many other trees just as close if not closer the building than these four.

It would sadden me greatly to have those trees removed and planting new trees does not insure success. I think that the trees actually contribute to the value of my apartment rather than detract from it.

Real estate web site Brick Underground reported on the Roosevelt Island Rivercross tree controversy:

... In 2000, the New York Times addressed this very issue, noting that “unless the proprietary lease or bylaws of a co-op contain unusual provisions, the board of directors generally has the right to make all decisions regarding the operation and maintenance of the co-op's property. … It is unlikely that a court would grant an injunction barring the removal of the trees.”...

I asked Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Charlene Indelicato:

... Since RIOC is the lessor of the Rivercross ground lease is Rioc's consent required to cut the trees down?...

Ms. Indelicato replied:

No consent is required by RIOC

Will update with more after the meeting.

Roosevelt Island Rivercross Coop Board Of Directors Decide To Cut Down Tall Courtyard Trees Claiming Trees Are Safety Hazard And Block East River Apartment Views Lowering Sale Values - Some Residents Object Calling It Arborcide

Image Of A Rivercross Courtyard Tree To Be Removed

The Roosevelt Island Rivercross Coop Board Of Directors informed shareholder residents of the building that 4 very tall courtyard trees (almost 9 stories high)

planted before the building was constructed over 38 years ago will soon be removed. According to a September 19 memo from the Board of Directors the trees are a safety danger

and block the views of some apartments

negatively impacting their value. The memo also states that the trees will be replaced by 5 cherry trees and accompanying shrubbery.

Here's the Rivercross Board Of Directors Memo on removing the 4 courtyard trees.

I am told that some residents are extremely upset by the Rivercross Board Of Directors decision to remove these trees describing it as "arborcide".

UPDATE - 9/25 - Rivercross residents and the Board of Directors are holding discussions regarding the fate of the trees. Stay tuned.

Also, compare Rivercross and Riverwalk million dollar apartments for sale.