The Centennial Square project will still go ahead as scheduled, starting this fall, but the eastern part of the proposed project, including removal of the sequoia, is on pause indefinitely.
Fans of a sequoia tree in Centennial Square are breathing “sighs of relief” after news that plans to remove the prized tree are on pause indefinitely, after square redevelopment funds were diverted to tackle street disorder downtown.
The cityannouncedlast week it would reallocate just over $10 million to the street-disorder plan, including $2.5 million from the Centennial Square project.
Coun. Matt Dell said the Centennial Square project will still go ahead as scheduled, starting this fall, and will include a performance stage, water feature, coffee kiosk and accessibility updates, but the eastern part of the proposed project, including removal of the sequoia, will be paused for an indeterminate time.
Dell said the tree was slated for removal in part because its root system is near a city utility box and it blocked the view of the square. He said its removal was recommended by a design firm to follow “best practices in urban design,” including the planting of a variety of new trees.
But Dell said he wants to honour the public’s commitment to keeping the tree. “Right now, it’s clear the public really loves the sequoia, and so I’m happy to see it stay,” he said.
Dell said that the square’s proposed water feature would not be a permanent splash pad, but could be turned off to serve as a central gathering place during festivals and markets.
Sasha Izard, who organized a petition last year that collected about 6,600 signatures to save the sequoia and nearby Japanese cherry tree, said he’s proud of his community for rallying to save the decades-old evergreen.
“A vast amount of the public are giving sighs of relief,” he said, adding that “the evidence shows [the tree] shouldn’t be removed,” and calling the redevelopment project “madness.”
Ryan Senechal, a sessional lecturer at the University of British Columbia’s forestry program, said the decision to delay the tree’s removal allows for “breathing room” for those who want to see its preservation.
He said there’s “ample evidence” that there’s nothing wrong with the tree, pointing to a freedom of information request released in June as proof.
It shows communication from the acting assistant supervisor of urban forestry saying there is no safety reason for removing the tree.
Senechal said he would like to see new urban trees planted alongside the existing sequoia instead of replacing the tree.
“A diversity of ages of trees, species of trees and sizes of trees is best practice in stewarding an urban forest,” he said, adding that the shade and cooling provided by giants like the sequoia will be more important than ever as climate change causes the city to heat up.
He said the transfer of funds to combat street disorder provided the city with a “convenient off-ramp” to stall removal of the sequoia after the community rallied to save it.
A motion proposed for Thursday’s council meeting by councillors Marg Gardiner and Stephen Hammond asks council to “postpone further redesign of Centennial Square until the City doesn’t go into debt over this project.”
They also want the remaining $2 million from a provincial grant that had been earmarked for the Centennial Square plan reallocated to combat street disorder.
In a statement, Coun. Jeremy Caradonna said he is “surprised” that the issue is being raised again, adding that council already voted to reallocate funds to community safety.
“The city must continue to invest in parks, amenities, and green space to support climate action, street activation, and local families,” he said.
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