To Jamie Sutherland, a 130-year-old European weeping beech near the Long Island Rail Road ticket station in Douglaston is more than a tree. It's a neighborhood icon.The rare, 50-foot tree - in need of special care because of its age and condition - stands in a traffic circle where it shades a memorial to World War I veterans. Its branches hang down in a near circle, touching the ground.
"There's a lot of pride in Douglaston about that tree," said Sutherland.
The city's Landmarks Preservation Commission determined that "the tree does not rise to the level of an individual New York City landmark," spokeswoman Kate Daly said.
A tree movement takes root in Douglaston
Sutherland said, "We need to do anything we can to save that tree. It's like a person. It distinguishes our community and represents a lot of history. It isn't just any tree."
11 comments:
it's good the tree isn't on LIRR property. It would've been cut down for sure then.
The original weeping beech tree (now gone)
at QHS headquarters at Kingsland House
was designated an NYC landmark.
The mature offspring that sprouted from its roots
still survive and retain the original designation
through direct inheritance, I believe.
This was the original tree
planted by Samuel Parsons in the 1840s
and is the parent of ALL such species
in North America.
So....why not landmark the one in Douglaston?
It's a son of a Beech.....ha, ha.....that original Beech .
But the folks at the LPC
are sons of bitches.
Let me guess the reason for their refusal.....
it doesn't "meet their criteria"....
whatever that may be!
Is this tree inside the Douglaston Historic District? If so, it could be protected. Douglaston is one of the rare cases where trees were actually included in the designation, I believe.
I don't believe it is. This is in the commercial section just north of the railroad. The historic district is in the residential area.
The tree is not in the historic district. I live near there, the historic district starts a few blocks north of the tree. Something should be done soon though, it has been looking a little sick lately, not as dense and expansive as it used to be.
Unfortunately it may be reaching the end
of its lifespan.
The original landmarked Weeping Beech
at Kingsland did exactly that......
although I believe it could have lived longer if the NYC Parks Dept. had attended to it with more
thought and professional care!
Does anyone know how old the Douglaston tree is ?
I'm coining a new name for the LPC.
Henceforth I shall call it the
LANDMARKS
PROCRASTINATION
COMMISSION
in reference to their narcoleptic
indifference towards Queens.
maybe if the community tacked a plaque to the tree with some politico's name the LPC would reconsider landmarking it.
Jerry, that's a real cool, "swinging" idea!
Thanks George.
I'm currently in discussion with my wife
about hanging the LPC's new name
on a banner across the facade of my house.
(Oops....
sorry about the use of the word "hanging".....
better make that draping) .
better make that "decorating."
"Draping" sounds too much like "raping."
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