46 ficus trees set for removal on Baldwin Avenue in Arcadia

The removal of 46 ficus trees on Baldwin Avenue in Arcadia is scheduled for next month, city officials announced Wednesday.

The large-scale removal is part of the nearly $4 million Baldwin Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project the City Council approved in May.

Work on the project began Monday and impacts Baldwin Avenue from Huntington Drive to Camino Real Avenue. The project will happen in two phases: first from Naomi Avenue to Camino Real Avenue, then from Duarte Road to Huntington Drive. Tree removal will begin on Sept. 16.

According to a city statement, while the “trees have brought valuable shade and presence to the Baldwin District for decades, a thorough evaluation by a Certified Arborist has revealed that their roots have become destructive to local infrastructure, as well as both public and private property. Over the years, root intrusion has necessitated frequent repairs or replacements of water and sewer lines, while root growth has led to uplifted sidewalks and curbs.”

Officials also said “many business owners in this area have expressed their ongoing concerns about roof and gutter maintenance, as well as staining and damage to sidewalks along storefronts.”

Those factors led officials to designate the 46 trees as “safety concerns” that are disrupting the city’s infrastructure.

“It has become clear that retaining these trees is incompatible with the need to protect local businesses, and ensure safe streets, accessible sidewalks, and underground infrastructure in this area,” officials said.

The contractor hired to assess the ficus trees was West Coast Arborists, according to a city staff report.

Officials described the Baldwin Avenue project as “important upgrades to … roadways, traffic signals, and sidewalks, helping improve a key gateway into Arcadia.”

Citing Arcadia’s designation as a Tree City USA “committed to maintaining a robust urban tree canopy,” new plantings will replace the ficus.

The Arcadia Development Services Department Engineering Division is fielding questions about the project at 626-574-5411 or DSD@ArcadiaCA.gov.