Neighbors watched this morning as the large Monkey Puzzle tree at the corner of NW 60th & 9th Ave NW was taken down.
“I don’t remember it not being there,” a neighbor who’s lived nearby for 47 years tells us. Some neighbors say the tree was the largest in the city and possibly the state, although we couldn’t confirm it.
The house recently sold and the new owners made the decision to take the large tree down. “I don’t think they can expect warm pies on their porch,” an upset neighbor says. We knocked on the door, but the new owners weren’t there.
Dawn Hemminger with the East Ballard Community Association says the tree company tried to talk the owners out of taking it down. “They tried to talk the owners into pruning the tree, but they wanted it down,” she says. “It’s a bad week for East Ballard,” Hemminger said with sadness in her voice, referring to the tree and Sunset Bowl.
Other neighbors supported the decision to remove the tree. “I am the owner of one of the houses nearest them and I know they did not take the decision lightly,” says Erin in comments below. “That tree was planted way too close to the house…. They were constantly picking shingles off the roof when the previous owners lived there – we know because we would often help them trim it back…. I agree that losing any large tree is sad, but planting one or more of a more responsible variety to replace it is not an unreasonable plan in this case.” (Thank you everyone for the tips and comments.)