T O P

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fluffnpuf

Street trees provide a huge amount of value for the city. They provide shade for drivers and pedestrians, lower energy costs, sequester carbon, filter air, mitigate storm water, and have measurable effects on people’s mental health. Having to re-do the sidewalks every few decades is just considered a maintenance cost to keep valuable resources around.


taylordobbs

Because it’s better than all sidewalk and no tree, or all tree and no sidewalk, and nobody’s figured out a perfect solution.


Delicious-Sale6122

Because trees, people and sidewalks are not permanent. Enjoy it while you can


somethingclever1123

If done correctly then it should be the right tree in the right spot meaning that they are taking into account the amount of room the tree has to grow when they decide which species to plant.


Few-Cookie9298

Trees add a heck of a lot of value. You can usually tell the difference between a slum and a neighborhood by whether there are trees or not


EMDoesShit

Until you enter a neighborhood where all the rich people have paid a fortune to delete the trees to keep their pools and gutters clean.


Few-Cookie9298

That’s a slum of a different sort then lol


InevitableNo7342

Depending on the location, the trees may not get as big as the ones in an open green space. The concrete and compacted soils really inhibit growth unless other actions are taken underground.  Edited to add: if you’re in an area with freeze/thaw cycles, the sidewalks have a limited life without the trees. As do the utilities beneath them. Everything needs replacing eventually. 


DoctorDefinitely

It can be done right or wrong. When done right the sidewalk is ok and the trees are ok.


Ok-Rate-3256

The city usually chargea the home owner to replace sidewalk so why should they care if they distroy it with tree roots.