Reported previously on the September 19 decision by the Roosevelt Island Rivercross Coop Board of Directors to cut down 4 courtyard trees which the Board claimed to be:

… a safety danger and block the views of some apartments negatively impacting their value….

Image Of Rivercross Courtyard Trees which led to claims of “arborcide” by some residents objecting to the removal of the trees.

… Roosevelt Island Tree Board President and Rivercross resident Ali Schwaryi sent this September 23 letter to Rivercross shareholders urging them to attend Rivercross Board of Directors meeting tonight and tell the Rivercross Directors to stop the arborcide of the 4 courtyard trees….

On October 8 reported:

… A packed room of Rivercross shareholders, met with the Board members last evening. The vast majority were distressed with the highhanded method used by the Board to decide quality of life matters.

After numerous comments the Board agreed to hire another arborist for an independent evaluation of the trees in question….

On November 14, based upon recommendations from consulting Arborists, the Rivercross Coop Board Of Directors decided to cut down only one of the 4 interior courtyard trees originally planned to be removed. According to this November 14 memo from the Rivercross Board to Rivercross residents:

In our last Memorandum dated October 17, we advised that three independent certified consulting arborists would be retained to examine the health and safety of the two Norway Maple trees in the Rivercross interior courtyard. Their reports are in and the following are a summary of their conclusions:

The more northerly of the trees (smaller tree) has severe “cankers, indicating dead spots combined with an extensive fungus and internal decay (squirrel living inside). There are no treatments to stop the decay and the tree poses an imminent threat and should be removed.

The more southerly of the trees (larger tree) has issues as well including decay and weakening of the wood both inside and out. While the tree does not pose an imminent risk, it should have new safety cabling installed and be closely monitored for signs of further decay.

Management will have the tree maintenance company schedule the removal of the northerly tree as soon as possible, while also installing new cabling on the southerly tree.

The Board intends to continue the services of a consulting arborist on an ongoing basis.

Based on the terms of the contracts with the arborists, we cannot distribute copies of their reports but you may review them in the Management Office.

Here’s a copy of the Rivercross Board memo.