WSU design class to offer tree options
Despite protests from neighbors, 22 trees on Bernard Street between 14th and 29th avenues still are scheduled to be chopped down this spring for street reconstruction.
But don’t yell “Timber!” quite yet.
Students from Bob Scarfo’s WSU Interdisciplinary Design Institute in Spokane will present alternative options at the Manito/Cannon Hill neighborhood council meeting tonight at 7. The meeting will be at Wilson Elementary School, 911 W. 25th Ave., and repeated at the March 3 Community Assembly meeting.
A spokesperson from the city said employees from the engineering services, public works and the mayor’s office were made aware of the meeting late last week and, at the time, did not plan on attending.
“We are not going to provide a design,” explained Scarfo, a 30-year professor who has consulted with other Spokane neighborhoods over the years. “Instead, we will leave them with examples from around the country.
“It’s not just the removal of 22 trees. It’s the next 22 trees, then 100 trees,” Scarfo said.
Scarfo and eight students in his advanced-level class at Washington State University will show alternatives and present studies that support their recommendations. They plan to discuss issues such as pedestrian-auto safety (the students’ findings show trees cause motorists to drive more safely); cost benefits of street trees; ecological benefits and social-health benefits.
According to the University of Washington College of Forest Resources, for example, a 25-foot tree reduces annual heating and cooling costs of a typical residence by 8 to 12 percent. A mature tree canopy reduces air temperatures by about 5 percent.
The students also plan to give examples of what’s being done in other cities.
Since Spokane announced plans for a $4 million street reconstruction project to improve about a two-mile stretch on Freya Street and a one-mile stretch on Bernard, many citizens have opposed removing the mature trees that form a canopy on Bernard.
The city said it will give residents who lose trees a young tree, which will be planted on their lawns rather than in the narrow planting strip. That didn’t fly with everyone.
Yellow ribbons and “Please Save Us!” signs were attached to the trees in protest. They have since been removed.
A lengthy e-mail letter was drafted by one South Hill resident, signed by many, and sent to the city. An open house also was planned for Wednesday to discuss the creation of a local improvement district to help beautify the street.
However, when City Councilman Brad Stark called on Mayor Dennis Hession to reconsider the tree removal at last week’s council meeting, members voted it down 4-3. Council President Joe Shogan and Councilwoman Mary Verner supported Stark.
“They’re into moving traffic,” Scarfo said of the city engineers. “We’re still up for moving traffic but in ways while maintaining and contributing to a pedestrian friendly community.”