Construction Project in York Includes Removal of Beloved Honey Locust Tree
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Construction has already started on a downtown revitalization project in York, but it’s not without its controversies.
A construction project in York is underway, which includes the removal of a beloved tree in town. (WGME)
“At Christmas, it’s decorated with lights and stars, it's very beautiful. In the fall, it’s pretty with all the foliage. It’s just a welcoming sight when you pull into the village,” Esse Studio hairstylist Lisa York said.
The tree, a honey locust, sits at the center of the village of York Street and Long Sands Road. While not native to Maine, it is not considered invasive.
Town leaders say the tree has to come down as part of an ongoing construction project.
*“A lot of alternatives were looked at, and what was ultimately settled on was replacing that three-way triangle intersection with a 'T.' So Long Sands Road will make a hard stop with independent turn lanes at York Street. So you concentrate pedestrian movements and the traffic movements into one area where it’s easy to see,” York Town Manager Peter Joseph said.
Residents have had mixed reactions to the plan.
*“There’s a lot of support from people to finally fix that intersection and also to revitalize the village. There are still people that aren’t in favor of it, and I think we’re hearing from some of them, and we're also hearing people who may have separate concerns about the tree being removed as part of the project,” Joseph said.
York is worried about people not being able to park close by.
*“We have a lot of elderly people that come in here, people that can’t walk far, so we are going to be losing all of that parking. Now there are six or seven businesses in this building that rely on that parking to run their business,” York said.
Leaders say a soldier’s monument currently set up next to the tree will need to be moved to a sidewalk 20 to 40 feet away.