I lived a few houses down from this tree for 3 years. this tree belongs to a neighbor who is extremely conscientious about pruning and care. although the sidewalk is bumpy, this tree provides far more benefit to the neighborhood than detriment: shade, breeze, sucking up car exhaust, sucking up carbon, mitigating urban heat island , etc etc etc. When a large tree like this is removed, it takes 20 years for a new tree to provide similar benefits. Especially in this current drought we should take good care of our city trees large and small.

The tree is over 100 feet high, so there is no a neighbor can prune and care for it. Also it is a city tree, on a city sidewalk, not owned by any individual neighbor.

I agree with the general sentiment of taking car of and the benefit of our trees. However this particular tree does make the sidewalk impassible for handicapped, children on bikes, etc. There is ledge in this area which tends to stop and kill tree roots when they grow to a certain depth. If this tree came down in any direction it would cause catastrophic damage. It has already taken out the power lines on several occasions in the past.

A large pin oak doing a fine job of shading and cooling. City replaced buckled cement with asphalt for smoother sidewalk. It's a City tree, under their care, could use some pruning back from homeowner's roof. Has pruning been requested?

Dear Belichick,
yes - I mis-spoke - the tree is a city tree, but the abutting owner has been an excellent advocate for the tree for decades, working with the city collaboratively and effectively. There is a new citizens advocacy committee for trees just forming in cambridge - I would like to invite you to the next meeting. tuesday aug 9 at 6pm - Eastern bank, harvard square. Here is a link from the greencambridge.org calendar
https://calendar.google.com/calendar/event?eid=Z2F0MmNvOGdvMXBtbWliaXFvbTZlbG5jZDhfMjAxNjA4MDlUMjIwMDAwWiBzdjNraDI2bDZ2NXJra2I3OThpa2dkOWM5c0Bn&ctz=America/New_York

This tree is a sturdy and healthy specimen that clearly has received loving attention over the years. Would recommend replacing asphalt patch with porous rubberized surfacing to allow more water to reach the tree's root system.

This tree might very well be the largest tree in Riverside. There are only 24 Pin Oaks in Riverside and only 9 trees with a diameter at breast height of more than 30 inches, according to a report published by the DPW in 2011. Another report on Cambridge trees, published by Earthwatch in 2015, estimated annual mortality for established street trees at nearly 10%.

This issue was recategorized from Tree Removal Request to Sidewalk Defect.

Tree has been inspected. Tree appears to be healthy at this time. No removal is necessary. Request will be sent to Street and Sidewalk Division to inspect sidewalk displacement issue.

Public Works - DL (Forestry) assigned this issue to Public Works - DA (Inspections)

thank you DPW for quick respnse time!

thank you DPW for quick respnse time!

Public Works - DA (Inspections) assigned this issue to Public Works - BD (Streets & Sewers)

Thank you for reporting your concern to City of Cambridge via Commonwealth Connect. We have reviewed the information you provided our staff and will be investigating this issue further.

Thank you, BD! What are the options for sidewalk remediation?

Location has been inspected. No issue with tree. No removal necessary at this time.