Neighbors decry tree cuts along MLK for house move
Mariah Summers • The Portland Tribune • June 30, 2008,
Nearly three blocks of street trees were removed from Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard this weekend to move a house from Northeast Broadway to Northeast Thompson.
Neighbors were upset by the removal of the trees and confused as to how the city could have permitted such action, especially given its commitment to sustainable development.
“I feel that the city should not have permitted this move,” said Michael Russell, a resident of the area. “We are a city that values ‘green’ themed agendas and cutting those trees down goes against our city’s value system and so much we have worked toward.”
According to the Portland Bureau of Development Services, which oversees the permits issued for home moves, the bureau received a permit from the Portland Department of Urban Forestry to remove all existing street trees in the area except for two.
Later, the department issued a subsequent permit to remove more trees, which the Bureau of Development Services said it was was not familiar when reached today.
The Department of Urban Forestry could not be reached for comment.
Protect Portland Parks 