City chops down some of Augusta’s most historic downtown trees
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Some of Augusta’s oldest historic trees are disappearing, and city officials say it’s in the name of improvement.
City crews have been cutting down 24 trees on 13th Street.
It’s been happening all this week to giant trees city crews had marked with orange spray-painted X’s.
They say removing the trees will improve roadway capacity and allow resurfacing and reconstruction of the curb, gutter, sidewalk, and storm sewer systems.
That’s bringing furious reactions from people who love and enjoy the beauty of Augusta, the shadowy walks on a hot day, and protection from a quick sprinkle.
“I’m concerned that a lot of these I know some of them are not healthy trees. But some of them do appear to be healthy trees,” said Kevin de l’Aigle.
Orange here, orange there, creating sawdust everywhere.
For Millie Huff at Sacred Heart Cultural Center, the loss of the trees makes her stomach drop.
“We’re called the Garden City for a reason. And part of that is the green space and the natural green historic feel of it,” said Huff.
24 of them are coming down and for Sacred Heart, the trees make the money.
“That’s a big part of Sacred Heart, we maintain our gardens, we really want to make sure that all of our brides and the parties that happen here have that beautiful of outdoor space, in order to take those pictures,” said Huff.
Without them, the community worries about the impact it could have.
“I know Augusta is at a tipping point, where downtown is really up and coming. But without those trees, it’s going to be very difficult for people to be down here, over the next 10, 15,20 years to walk around in sunshine, you know, and heat like we have today,” said de l’Aigle.
Dr. Hameed Malik, director of engineering for the city of Augusta, says this has to happen.
“The trees are causing safety hazards,” he says. “With their roots growing outward instead of downward. This affects sewer lines, roadways, sidewalks, and curbs.”
Some of the trees look fine to the eye, but a few of them are causing major issues like uneven sidewalks, curb issues, and more.
And if they were to fall, that would be a problem, too.
“If you don’t cut the tree roots will be impacted and after 4 or 5 years the tree is going to die and then we will have to come back and not only take out the tree but now we would have to fix that area,” said Malik.
Something Huff said she understands.
“I do understand it now and accept that this is a large price to pay for progress. But 13th Street does need that restoration we know that will make our city more walkable. It ultimately means Sacred Heart will be more easily accessible for those who approached from downtown on foot,” she said.
For the trees Malik is taking away, he says there’s a plan in place in the coming years to plant new ones, with the addition of lights,
But that takes time and money.
So while they won’t be replaced immediately, he says crews will start replanting them within the next couple of years.
Copyright 2023 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
