The Continuing Tree Fall on Anapamu
by Bonnie Donovan
Last year, people voiced concerns about the Historic Italian Stone Pine trees on Anapamu Street. When asked why the plastic watering boxes (that were donated to the city) were being removed, city officials said they didn't have the budget to maintain them.
Two more toppled last weekend.
Last year, three citizens wrote a report on their research:
"The Iconic Italian Stone Pines of Anapamu Street:
A Revered City Landmark at Risk
Current Status of 57 Pinus pinea (Italian Stone Pine) Trees on the 300-800 Blocks of East Anapamu Street, Officially Designated as the “Doremus Pine Trees”
Richard Closson, Cheri Rae, and Emma Brinkman
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As many as ninety-four Italian Stone Pine trees were planted along six blocks of
East Anapamu Street in 1908 and 1929. By 1997, seventy-nine trees remained,
which were officially landmarked for their historic, scenic, and environmental features.
In 2023 their number has dwindled to fifty-seven specimens including later replacements.
The rate of demise seems to have accelerated after their landmarking, even more than what might be expected from natural age and elemental factors.
The authors conducted several months-long, multi-factor investigation of the trees’
history of care, assessed their current status, created a physical inventory of each tree,
suggested possible causes for their collective deterioration, and now make
recommendations for actions that might reverse the undesirable trend."
This report is long but a really good read, fill your coffee cup.
Get Ready For the Heat
The news on these trees and the De La Guerra Plaza project reminds us of our tree count.
The City De La Guerra Plaza dream team will be removing 49 trees from the Historic Plaza to create a concrete earth-warming city center.
When attending movie nights at Sunken Gardens, or concerts at Chase Park, would you prefer to sit on soft cool grass or hard hot concrete?
Have you been keeping up with the De La Guerra Plaza reimagine project?
Isn't this a historically significant plaza?
There will be no grass!
Over the years, if you have been keeping up with Did You Know, you may recall our tree count. We have been keeping track of the number of trees that the city has or planned to remove for their projects. In 2022, we recorded the removal of 165 trees specifically for city projects. It is important to note that this count only includes trees removed for city projects and does not take into account the numerous other developments taking place throughout Santa Barbara.
Tree count update, April 2024:
216 removed for various projects and reasons.
The transformation of the Staples parking lot, for example, into a large apartment complex is just one of the many projects that will be contributing to the changing landscape of Santa Barbara.
And more concrete
On Tuesday, during the Architectural Board of Review (ABR) meeting, a five-story (sixty-foot) 40-studio apartment building was showcased alongside a four-story (48-foot) storage building referred to as a living wall.
Is this what our landscaping will be in the future? Vines hanging from buildings?
While listening to the description of the proposed ivy wall, the thought of a potential rat infestation crossed my mind, and eventually, a commissioner voiced the same concern.
The concept seems interesting, but its practicality remains uncertain. It looks as if the primary purpose behind its implementation is to regulate the temperature of the storage building, especially since the owner plans to offer high-end car storage at a premium.
This highlights the issue of concrete blocks retaining heat, prompting the need for innovative solutions.
Overall, the design of the apartment and storage buildings raises many questions.
One positive aspect highlighted during the presentation was the preservation of a tree located on the property. This demonstrates a commitment to environmental conservation amidst the construction of new buildings, which is a commendable effort to maintain greenery within the urban landscape. The emphasis on preserving a tree on the corner further underscores the project's environmental considerations.
This project will take all the governor offers: no parking or open space… but don't you worry: the architect drives an electric car that will reverse all the new heat being generated!
Things to think about
Recall the numerous instances in previous years where property owners have sought to eliminate a tree from their property through appeals, only to have their appeals denied, preventing them from removing the tree.
Is De La Guerra Plaza the city center or is State Street?
Can we still call Santa Barbara "Tree City USA" or "Urban Forest"?
A special thanks to the Pearl Chase Society, for their long-standing efforts and funding donations to help save these majestic trees.
Here we go once again.
Anapamu and De Forrest's trees..... The trees have reached to issues that are working against them. 1) the size and how tall are creating a situation where they are becoming a hazard to the buses' traveling on Anapamu, and moving vans, box delivery vehicles etc. Then there is the issue of So. Cal. Edison lines and cable/phone lines. The root system of these trees cannot sustain during El Nino years and they come down with a crash. In the 300 and 400 block they have been infested with pine beetles etc.
Last weekend (Easter) one dropped on the 500 block (crushing a car) then another dropped on the 400 block (crushing another car. Imagine if thy had gone the other way into housing.
So how about if you have to have them you take them out on a designated time plan and replace them with younger trees?
---
Cars Are Basic, Inc. spent literally years in Council Chambers fighting to keep open De la Guerra Plaza as a green place. I personally spent decades working in Fiesta Booths for various non-profits including Vietnam Veterans. The circular pattern for vehicles is beneficial to the traffic pattern. A traffic pattern this Council does not care about (shutting down State, narrowing streets, and interfering with bus/emergency response. CAB warned the Circulation Element put in place 40 years ago would destroy State and Old Town retail and make it a hollow shell of what it could be and was. Locals now avoid State and derisively refer to it as "Death Valley" where retail and most restaurants go to die. So sure let's pave over Paradise (remember the song), destroy the wonderful pageant called Fiesta, back hand slap at the 4th of July Parade. After all this Council and their hand picked shills on the ABR could care less about a vibrant city. (Did you know there is a report out for years that states to make it work without cars there will have to be 10,000 residents living downtown between De la Vina St. and Santa Barbara Street?) They did not tell you that one over the past decade did they?
That Ladies and Gentlemen, is just the tip of the destruction of Old Town Santa Barbara and the Council that sold out to Sacramento grants and who cares crowd.