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PORTLAND, Ore. – A house built in 1922 in the Eastmoreland neighborhood has been demolished by a Beaverton development company, with several large sequoias still standing that are planned to be taken down for construction of two new houses.
The property at 3646 SE Martins St., reported on by the Portland Chronicle earlier this month, sold to Everett Custom Homes on April 1. Since that time the developer has applied for demolition of the house, with all trees on the property to be removed as well.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
This includes some giant 100-year-old sequoias along the property line between the lot that had the house and the vacant lot to the east, both owned by the developer and both planned for construction.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
The tree removal has received media attention from KOIN News and the Eastmoreland Neighborhood Association is involved, with president Robert McCullough addressing an open letter to Commissioner Amanda Fritz.
“At the heart of this controversy is the continued drift of Portland’s city government away from our environmental and land use values,” he wrote. “As the number of trees in our urban canopy continues to fall, it is appropriate to consider how consistent that is with our beliefs.”
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Everett Custom Homes put out a news release regarding the trees, seemingly in response to the public outcry over their proposed removal.
“Often, design decisions are not as black and white as they might appear,” the development company said. “It’s our responsibility to prudently utilize land in a way that improves on the livability of Portland’s neighborhoods; especially when working within a tight ‘urban growth boundary.'”
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
A Facebook group called Save the Portland Redwoods has been formed with one goal in mind.
“Tucked away on SE Martins Street in Portland stand redwoods planted back in the Civil War era,” the group wrote. “A developer plans on cutting them down. Help save them.”
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
As yet the trees still stand, although the 93-year-old house has been demolished.