As it seems like it happens so often these days, large trees are cut down either on or near public property and the community is not informed, notified or sought out for advice.
It has happened again — this time at Liberty Station, the former Naval Training Center. At least 20 large what appear to be ficus trees have been chopped down completely around High Tech High and even the stumps have been ground down.
These photos tell the story — or at least part of it.
Alerted by community members, a Rag investigator checked it out this morning — Thursday, June 20 — and has confirmed that the trees are gone. Our reporter spoke to employees of the tree cutting company and they had no clue as to where the order to cut them came from. They also spoke to a couple people at High Tech High and learned the school had nothing to do with the cutting.
Our reporter spoke to one employee of a small retail outlet, Chris Braga, who gave the Rag several photos he had taken a day or two previous.
Wanting to find answers as to who ordered the trees removed and for what reasons, I began making calls, including several to Hines offices around the southwest — as I understood Hines owned a chunk of Liberty Station. However, Hines owns only 4 office buildings, we were told, but that they only control the interiors, and everything exterior is handled by the Liberty Station Community Association.
I contacted director Lori Albrecht of LSCA and left phone and email messages. As of this writing, have not heard back.
Our reporter also noticed workers doing some pruning work on other trees, but could not determine whether they were actually doing pruning or were prepping the trees so they would have a smaller “footprint” when felled.
Here is the contact info for the Liberty Station Community Association if anyone else wanted to give it a shot or just to give some feedback:
Liberty Station Community Association
Mailing Address: 3555 Rosecrans St., #114-210, San Diego, CA 92110
619.756.7992
info@libertystation.com
From Peninsula News report on the same trees: “Our tree expert – whose company is handling the take down – explained what’s happening. ‘The removals at Liberty Station are for a redevelopment project. Most of the trees coming out have invasive roots or constitute a trip hazard. I understand they have an aggressive replanting program after the construction project is winding down.’” https://mailchi.mp/pointloma/peninsula-news-from-point-loma-association-0rzv2ewcxa?e=60d3763ec0
Our Rag reporter noted that High Tech High kids would hang out in the shade underneath the ficus trees — now they won’t be able to.
So, what is the redevelopment project?
As a parent of a High Tech student, this infuriates me.
Yes, ficus trees do have extensive roots, but apparently it wasn’t considered much of a problem until somebody wanted to redevelop that space. Will the “aggressive replanting” involve larger trees? Or will we get saplings in 5-gallon tubs?
BTW, never heard back from the Liberty Station Community Assoc.
High Tech High teacher here! We were absolutely devastated in our last staff meeting of the year, watching the trees get ripped out and shredded. I was this close to Julia Butterfly-ing it! Now our classrooms will be much warmer.. and not to mention the outside of our buildings look hideous now. Disappointed in liberty station.
Every day through out San Diego more trees are being cut down and roots ground up. The replacement trees are a joke. They are replacing giant trees, trees that once helped keep the surrounding areas cool . Are sometimes being replaced with ornamental trees. These trees are never going to be any taller then 6 to 7 feet.. Many of these trees are 50 to 100 years old . These trees can not just be replaced with 5 gallon sapplings. Streets once lined with shady trees are now cleared of all natural shade causing the temperature to soars as soon as the sun rises in the midst of a climate crisis why would trees be cut down which are proven to keep areas cooler unless they are pushing an agenda there for creating the climate crisis…. all san diego is being affected. And all citizens who pay a power bill to SDG&E are heavily going to be affected.