Cutting down trees to install sidewalks

A historic neighborhood filled with nearly -year-old trees may lose various of them if the city of Miami has their way Why Let s turn to Help Me Howard with Patrick Fraser to find out Its Morningside Miami s oldest historic neighborhood filled with beautiful homes and tall towering trees Brett Ury We have trees that date back to the original plot that were designed with trees that are years old Mango Gumbo Limbo Royal Poinciana and now plenty of of them will become sawdust Alexandra Sarmiento I think it s a tragedy The trees will be cut down to make room for sidewalks on both sides of Northeast Fifth Avenue and th Terrace Also being ripped out hedges ornamental landscaping and driveways in the city s easement Sandy Moise Esthetically it s going to take away much of our lush landscaping that truly is the charm of Morningside The sidewalk plan was proposed by Miami Commissioner Damian Pardo back in August of But numerous residents say they didn t find out till last month Brett Ury It seems sneaky to me According to the city plans trees are in the path of the sidewalks but it s not clear if they will all be affected In Barry s episode the sidewalk will be closer to his house than the street Same for his neighbor Brett Ury We would be walking through this family s yard right here Up and down the street tree after tree coming down Brett Ury Gumbo Limbo tree is gone and that mango tree is dead in the center of the path as well The oaks and numerous are protected and can t be cut down but to install the sidewalks Barry declared the city will have to come close to this tree s roots Brett Ury Because if they have to cut this out they re going to destabilize the tree It can fall and hit my house The Morningside Civic Association did vote for the sidewalks Sandy Moise is on the board but opposes the project Sandy Moise Absolutely The city is definitely wasting their time trying to destroy a beautiful neighborhood But can a city commissioner and a council cut down trees that have been here for decades Howard Howard Yes if it s in what s called the easement which is a portion of your property that the executive has the right to control meaning they can cut down your trees to install a sidewalk But elections have consequences and if you don t like what your commissioner or council member is doing pressure them to change their mind and if not vote them out of office I tried to speak to the city commissioner backing the sidewalk plan Damian Pardo didn t respond to me But a spokesperson for Pardo did send an email explaining where the idea for sidewalks came from That Commissioner Pardo was approached by residents concerned about hazardous traffic on Northeast Fifth and th Countless residents have a simpler cheaper remedy than sidewalks Sandy Moise Put in a couple traffic calming devices speed bumps a little bit more signage Pardo s spokesperson mentioned the commissioner put out brochures on doors regarding projects in Morningside that included a survey that demonstrated residents overwhelmingly advocacy the sidewalks The homeowners living on the affected streets counter with their petition showing of owners opposing sidewalks According to a transcript of Pardo s meeting in June he declared We went door to door to talk about the sidewalks One homeowner replied That s a lie The city is now looking at a revised plan to drop one sidewalk but still install the other three sidewalks Something homeowners don t want Alexandra Sarmiento And this is just regretful Right now residents are worried about their trees and the way Morningside has looked for years Brett Ury To come in here and change the aesthetics of such a beautiful street is insane In the end I did speak to the head of the Morningside Civic Association Mark Supino who declared the board did vote for sidewalks in general but no specific plans And he hopes there s time to find a key that will make everyone happy We will keep following this A trouble towering over you Can t seem to cut into it Branch out and contact us So you don t have to uproot your life With this Help me Howard I m Patrick Fraser News CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD Email helpmehoward wsvn comReporter Patrick Fraser at pfraser wsvn comMiami-Dade - -WSVNBroward - -WSVN