Metro
exclusive
A tree grows in Queens — in the middle of the sidewalk.
Astoria residents are baffled over four trees that were planted smack in the center of the sidewalk on 29th Street, off of Broadway, on Dec. 26.
One of them was placed right in front of 31-38 29th St. and Erick Elias, the superintendent of the building, said he first got word of it when a tenant sent him a photo.
“The day after Christmas, he sent us a picture of it that said, ‘Did the landlord order a tree?’” he told The Post.
“So I went outside and was like, ‘Holy crap, it’s real. There’s a tree in the middle of the sidewalk.’”
Elias, 39, said three others were also planted on his block that day, also in the middle of the sidewalk, on the other side of the street.
“And apparently I’m hearing that it’s happening in a couple of other places in Astoria and also in Sunnyside,” he said.
About a week and a half prior, he heard what he thought was construction in front of his home one morning.
“At 7 a.m. on the dot, we started hearing jackhammering. When we leave to go to work, we see this dirt patch right in the middle of the sidewalk and we’re like, ‘What the hell is this?’” he recalled.
“We’re all thinking pipework or something. None of us are thinking ‘tree’ because it’s in the middle of the sidewalk.”
Neighbors have taken to social media to express their concerns with the out-of-place plantings.
“Anyone know why they’re putting trees in the *middle* of the sidewalk on 29th St in Astoria?,” @vidiot_ posted on X on Dec. 29 along with a photo of one, which is across from Elias’ building.
The conversation on X included a link to the Reddit discussion over the tree planted in front of Elias’ building, which started with a photo and the caption, “All about planting trees, but this seems a little odd.”
A Reddit user even found the permit for the tree pit, issued in November.
“Who approved this brilliant idea ?!?!!! Trees in the middle of the sidewalk??? WTF” Debra Roy Vecchio wrote on the Facebook group Astoria Centric, along with a photo of one of the trees.
“Absolutely ridiculous. This requires a lawsuit,” added Maria Dourmas Hriso Mallis.
“Public endangerment and the blocking of pedestrian sidewalk to start. Wheelchair and disabled endangerment. I’m sure there are tons of codes of infractions the city puts on owners that can be turned on the city.”
Others welcomed the natural additions.
“Trees are good. Calm down,” wrote John Mcgarry.
“It does not block the sidewalk. There is plenty of space on both sides for a person in a wheelchair to maneuver around,” added Alex Tinder.
“I think it’s a great idea. To discourage motor scooters and bikes on the sidewalk. Plus trees are good. And I can take my dog out without being too close to the road. I think it’s a win win all around,” said Samae Allred.
Elias said he and other Astorians have also been embracing the tree.
“I put a picture of Larry David on it because they didn’t put it on the curb, so [a reference to] Larry David’s show, ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’” he explained.
“And then some guy last night came over and put Fran Lebowitz on it.”
The trees were put in the middle of the sidewalk, instead of right at the curb, because of underground utility lines, the city Parks Department said.
While similar tree placements in other locations have been successful, we’ve heard from the community that we missed the mark with these four trees, and we will be relocating the trees to more appropriate locations,” said Parks spokesman Gregg McQueen.
Michael Johnson is a tech enthusiast with a passion for all things digital. His articles cover the latest technological innovations, from artificial intelligence to consumer gadgets, providing readers with a glimpse into the future of technology.
