1 min readBy Published On: September 30th, 2013Categories: News4 Comments on Save a tree – UPDATE

Neighbors rally together

A 150 year old elm  – has been saved at Thomas Park!  A superior court judge issued an unprecedented ruling that the City of Boston does not have jurisdiction under Massachusett’s Law to remove a 150 year tree at Thomas Park.  

Back in May, a resident of the Thomas Park neighborhood tried to have the tree removed by claiming it was sick – some believe in order to make room for a curb cut in the sidewalk. 

The city of Boston tree warden, Greg Mosman determined that tree was in fact sick and dying and could cause damage to property in the neighborhood. 

Southie Trees – an initiative run by the South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation and a group of concerned neighbors rallied together to save the tree.  Disappointed with the decision by the city, the group hired an independent arborist to assess the tree.  He deemed the tree healthy. 

The battle was taken before Judge Fahey on September 19th who ruled that the tree will not be cut down.

For more information you can email Southie Trees at [email protected].

 

4 Comments

  1. Kate Brown September 20, 2013 at 6:28 pm

    Superior Court of MA Judge Fahey just issued an unprecedented ruling that the City of Boston has no jurisdiction under MA law 87 sub section 5 to remove the 150 year old Elm at Thomas Park in South Boston by issuing a permanent injunction barring the City from removing the Majestic Beauty.

    We and all of Boston are eternally grateful to tireless Attorney Joseph Gregory for victoriously challenging a flawed system in order to protect and preserve all of Boston’s Trees in keeping with a greener world!!!

  2. Anonymous October 1, 2013 at 12:55 am
    Did judge fahey explain who does have jurisdiction? The city owns the tree and maintains the tree. If they don’t have the authority then who does?
  3. Anonymous October 25, 2013 at 4:25 pm

    if it was for a condo development that tree would have been down along time ago.    i see the neighbors that fought the hardest have parking where there wasn’t parking before at the former single family now 5 condo’s.   but the house in question whose occupants lived in southie for decades were denied parking.   i’m glad the tree didn’t meet its demise but another area could have been worked out .   but because they’re southie people, they weren’t allowed.    if they were yuppies, they would have had a spot long ago without any meetings, never mind  a court date.

  4. SimonsTreeSurgery March 15, 2014 at 3:17 pm

    I don’t prefer cuting down a tree. And when it 150 years old no point to it. I don’t know what ideas coming up into people’s mind but I think judge will take decision favor of that tree. Thanks. SimonsTreeSurgery

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