It seemed the fate of the giant ficus trees that dotted a three-block area of Whittier’s commercial center was sealed. In December, City Council members voted to approve a renovation of the area that would see all 83 trees uprooted.
Then there was a commotion.
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Large numbers of residents attended subsequent meetings, The rally was organised And circulated a petition to oppose the removal of the trees in one fell swoop. And it appears the public pressure is working. City officials will hold a “study session” this month — their third since the $20 million was approved Greenleaf Promenade — Checking the plan for trees and other elements of the project.
Some see the trees as synonymous with the character of the quiet community nestled in eastern Los Angeles County, and praise them for providing shade and absorbing greenhouse gases in a warming world. Others blame the non-native trees for obscuring sidewalks and blocking sewer lines with their roots, or they are willing to sacrifice the trees to begin work on a project they believe will bring economic vitality. According to city officials, construction elements, such as required grading, make it impossible to save any of the ficus trees. Some other types of trees planted along the street could be saved, officials said.
The debate over the trees has divided the community, pitting some business owners against residents — and against each other. A meeting in late April turned ugly at times, with about 80 public speakers passionately expressing conflicting views.
One point of broad consensus is that Uptown Whittier, considered the heart of the city, could use some love. Its last renovation was in the 1980s, including restoration after the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake, which badly damaged the area.
Mary Gorman-Sullens, left, and Helen Radhar, both of the Whittier Conservancy, walk along a sidewalk raised by the roots of an old ficus tree. Gorman-Sullens says trees “give us a sense of place.”
(Lila Seidman/Los Angeles Times)
The proposed promenade stretches along the aptly named Greenleaf Avenue, from Wardman Street to Hadley Street, and includes wide sidewalks, outdoor dining, gathering spaces, street furniture and decorative lighting.
Whittier City Manager Brian Saiki said in a statement that city officials are “committed to revitalizing Uptown Whittier to create a thriving, walkable and pedestrian-friendly area that generations of residents can enjoy.” He said that in order to realize the “long-standing vision,” it is necessary to remove some trees in the project area.
“We understand the community’s concerns and appreciate the feedback we’ve received,” Saiki said, adding that the city will plant large replacement trees “wherever possible,” as well as add 39,000 square feet of understory landscaping and 18,000 square feet of new park space.
A similar but smaller pilot project was approved in 2019 but was shelved pandemicThe one-block garden in Uptown, built at an estimated cost of $3.8 million, according to city officials, is different in a way that some consider significant: It preserves clusters of ficus trees.
The project changed and expanded over the next few years, in part because of shifting priorities brought on by the pandemic, city officials said. Greenleaf Promenade cost about $20 million.
Today, the ficus trees that sparked the controversy — believed to have been planted in the late 1960s — form a shady canopy across the avenue. Some of their benefits and drawbacks are clearly on display. Step out from their sprawling branches on a hot day and be prepared to be beaten by the sun. But when they’re dropping berries such as blueberries, as they used to do in May, stroll along the sidewalk beneath them and expect to step in organic mud.
It’s not just Whittier that’s struggling with a ficus tangle. Beverly Hills cut down more than 50 ficus trees as part of a sidewalk renovation project in front of a judge ordered the city to stop through a preliminary injunction. After the ruling, the city opted to prepare an environmental impact report for the project, a process that is still ongoing, said Jamie T. Hall, an attorney representing the tree advocates in the case. The fate of the 36 trees remains up in the air.
In 2018, Pasadena city officials held a meeting to gather input from the community on whether the ficus trees should continue to be planted, as well as how it would impact Green Street. informed of A public works administrator at the time assured that there were no plans to remove any trees along the road. Last March, the volunteer group Pasadena Beautiful Foundation Reported planting 30 Ficus macrocarpa Trees on the road.
Uptown Whittier retains a small-town feel. Greenleaf Avenue is lined with mom-and-pop shops, as it has been for more than 70 years Lovell’s Recordswas mixed with new establishments, such as La Sexy MicheladaA bar and restaurant.
drinking coffee outside Crepes and GrapesAt a cafe in Greenleaf, Mary Gorman-Sullens said the trees provide “atmosphere and character.” Gorman-Sullens, president of the nonprofit Whittier ConservancyHe said removing them would take away the connection people felt with the area.
“These trees give us a sense of place,” Gorman-Sullens later told a Times reporter as she drove around the area.
Christian Lomas opened La Botaneria two years ago and believes the renovations on Greenleaf Avenue could help handle sluggish sales.
(Lila Seidman/Los Angeles Times)
Christian Lomas, Owner of La BotaneriaThe company, which sells ice and juice, said the business at Greenleaf began two years ago — and sales were down both years.
“I think if it gets renovated it will bring in a lot more business,” Lomas said.
Lomas said the drainage was slow and adding rooticide helped, leading him to believe the trees may also have played a role in the blockage.
(Those who push to preserve the ficus trees say their roots affect the pipes of Greenleaf facilities.)
Whittier native Gee Gonzalez, who runs a bike shop down the street, expressed a different opinion.
“Just let it be,” said Gonzalez. G’s Cyclery And Wheels“Let it be as it is.”
Rebecca Naranjo, 21, who also grew up in Whittier, says she’s in a dilemma. She likes something “new and cool,” but she fears it will open the door to chain businesses.
The Whittier City Council will next discuss the Greenleaf Avenue project on June 18.
(Lila Seidman/Los Angeles Times)
At the final promenade study session on April 30, the City Council opted to phase in the project and consider tree replacement options before moving forward.
Council Member Mary Ann Pacheco, who elected shortly before the meetingHe said he needed more time and information to take a decision.
“I want to see some options. And I don’t want to see the answer after seeing the options is, ‘And this is why we can’t do it,'” she said to thunderous applause.
However, Council Member Octavio Cesar Martinez suggested the project has been delayed for too long.
“I’m sure that my friends who oppose progress, on some level, want Uptown to stay stagnant the way it is,” said Martinez, whose district includes Uptown. “That would turn Uptown into some weird monument, and monuments almost always lead to tombs, which lead to death.”
Pacheco’s request to continue discussions was accepted.
Council Member Fernando Dutra said he wanted to see what kind of trees could be planted, where they would be planted and their growth period.
“Good projects take time. We have waited too long,” he said.
A Community rally scheduled This meeting will take place sometime before the meeting on June 18.
“We’re not Beverly Hills and we’re not Pasadena,” said Connie McCormack, a longtime Whittier resident who is one of those leading the opposition to the tree removal. “We have nothing else except this beautiful canopy.”
There are more than 80 ficus trees along Greenleaf Avenue in Uptown Whittier. How long will they last?
(Lila Seidman/Los Angeles Times)
