We are writing today to express our sadness over the coming loss of greenspace behind our house, including a spectacular sycamore tree that stands at the end of Maple Avenue on the banks of the old Mill River bed in Northampton. If you’ve ever seen a sycamore, you know they almost glow in their white bark. When you see this giant tree against the blue sky, it’s an awesome sight. It has been here for many years but it doesn’t have much time left.
The river was rerouted many years ago but there is still a healthy stream flowing through. The stream and forest around it are home to much wildlife and the stream is a sweet spot to stop and get a drink if you are one of the bears, turkeys, foxes and ducks who pass by.
This little forest counteracts acres of adjacent parking lot. Mature trees can lower surface temperatures dramatically compared to unshaded pavement. The roots of the trees on this land help mitigate the huge amount of water that flows into the area from the town’s parking lots when it rains. The root systems of an established sycamore alone can absorb hundreds of gallons of stormwater, a service that even the best drainage pipes struggle to replicate.
A few years ago, the city changed the zoning laws to encourage more “infill” and the area became available for development. The new owners decided to build a 5-unit market-rate townhouse, the largest possible structure given the constraints of the surrounding wetlands.
We support sensible housing, and we also support preserving trees and greenspaces. As we try to reconcile these sometimes-opposing needs, we are very sad to be losing a space that we feel connected to. If you want to see a great tree, take a walk down to the end of Maple Avenue before it’s too late.
Mandaryn Gerry, Graham Ridley, Margaret Tomasko
Northampton