Community Corner
When a Tree Falls in Mar Vista ...
The coral tree outside the Mar Vista library has now been removed, but there is still some discussion over who will foot the bill—and what exactly will take its place.
A stump and an empty cement planter are all that remain of the coral tree . The neighborhood landmark was removed July 13 after it was determined to be a threat to public safety.
It is unclear what will be planted or built in its place—and who will be footing the full bill for its removal.
Branches started falling from the tree July 8, breaking a traffic light. Mar Vista branch librarians quickly called the city's 311 service.
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Over the next two days, firefighters from across the street from the library and the Department of Street Services helped set up caution tape and signs around the falling tree. called its private contractor, Toyo Construction, which came and cut down several branches July 9.
Staffers from the Parks and Recreation and Urban Forestry departments showed up July 11 to remove additional branches. The city had initially determined that the tree was not in the public right-of-way but changed its evaluation after the July 9-10 weekend, Assistant Chief Forester Ron Lorenzen told Patch.
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Concerned by the rotting exterior of the remainder of the tree, the library then made an additional call to Toyo to fully remove the tree from the planter.
“It was absolutely a public safety issue,” said Peter Persic, public relations director for the Los Angeles Public Library. “[The tree] could have easily killed people.”
Toyo Construction removed the entire tree July 13. The operation cost $1,250, billed to the library, according to Toyo contractor Mike Ohshita.
Mar Vista resident and library patron Scott Harris said the decision was a cost-effective one. “How much more does it cost to keep the tree alive than to plant another tree?” he said.
Persic told Patch payment details are still being worked out. The library will pay Toyo Construction for its work, but it is unclear whether the library will also have to compensate Parks and Recreation, Persic said.
In the past, the library has generally paid for the city's upkeep of the premises, he said.
“Parks and Recreation is charged with maintaining library landscaping, as well as land at other city facilities,” Persic said.
But Persic added that this is a more unusual situation.
The office of District 11 Councilman Bill Rosendahl said that Parks and Recreation is not responsible for large-scale maintenance.
“Recreation and Parks handles small landscaping, grass and shrubs,” said Senior Field Deputy Len Nguyen, whose territory covers Mar Vista, Palms and West L.A. “The bigger stuff is handled by [Toyo]."
Nguyen said the Parks and Recreation crew went to the site as a courtesy to the Mar Vista neighborhood.
Rosendahl told Patch that there is no set protocol for handling fallen trees.
"The problem is that it depends on the location with any given tree," Rosendahl said. "It's not simple."
Looking ahead, community members will be asked for input on the replacement for the coral tree, said Mar Vista Senior Librarian Carole Kealoha, although Persic noted the library is communicating with Parks and Recreation on the issue as well.
Mar Vista resident Janneke Hesseling and her two daughters, biking to the library to return books, had their first glimpse of a library front without the coral tree.
“It looks barren,” said Sterre Hesseling, 10.
Her 8-year-old sister, Mieke, said another tree should be planted in its place.
Mar Vista Community Council Green Committee member Christopher McKinnon agreed.
"We're hoping all involved will rally to the cause and put a new tree there," McKinnon told Patch. "It's a 100-year-old tree. It's been there as long as Mar Vista itself."
