Buck Wargo
DOWNTOWN -- Ficus trees planted along South Brand Boulevard 30 years
ago will be gone by spring.
Two storm drain systems, new sidewalks and a repaved section of South
Brand Boulevard will be added as well as palm and crepe myrtle trees. The
cost for the tree removal is $68,000.
The ficus trees were planted by the city 30 years ago at the request
of the Glendale Beautification Advisory Council, which solicited funds
from South Brand businesses, including auto dealers.
Auto dealers and the city's Public Works Department pushed for their
removal because they blocked dealer signs, showrooms and street lights.
They have also damaged roads and sidewalks because of their root system,
posing a danger for people walking by, city officials said.
The removal plan has the backing of the Committee for a Clean and
Beautiful Glendale, a group promoting tree plantings in Glendale.
"It is just a necessary evil," said Julie Burroughs Shermer,
chairwoman of the committee. "We don't want anyone to get hurt. It is the
logical thing to do even though we are a strong supporter of tree
planting. The trees were selected years ago -- people did not have the
insight to know what would happen in the future."
Jeanne Armstrong, the city's development services director, said
planting ficus trees was popular in the 1950s because of their color and
ability to tolerate smog.
"Nobody is planting them anymore as street trees," Armstrong said.
"They are ripping up sidewalks."
The trees will be replaced along South Brand Boulevard between San
Fernando Road and Colorado Street.
Mayor Ginger Bremberg said the city should be more selective in
removing trees instead of replacing them with palms, which she calls
"fuzzy little toothpicks" that look silly.
"If it has to be done, they should remove the ones that are pushing up
the sidewalk and breaking the curbs and gutter," Bremberg said. "I have
driven down there, and you can read all of the dealer's signs. I don't
understand why they are destroying the beauty that makes Brand more
impressive than having naked (auto rows) with those silly flags."
