Members of two city commissions are concerned about a plan to remove the yew hedge at City Hall.
Tim Kirby of the Shade Tree Commission said members learned of the plan this week. He forwarded this statement:
Tim Kirby and Jan Massey, both members of the Shade Tree Commission, have voiced their opposition to removing the yew hedge that lines both sides of the entrance way to City Hall. The Historic Preservation Commission also wants the yews to stay.
We don't know their age but they are old, venerable plants in good health. The design is a classic one and it gives the front facade of City Hall balance and structure appropriate for the Georgian Revival building. We don't object to some light trimming and shaping, but we do think they should be left intact. Yews are considered one of the finest hedge plants. In most parts of Plainfield, deer have decimated their ranks. We don't have a deer problem at City Hall, yet another reason to leave this established hedge as is.
I am torn on these. They are overgrown and more difficult to maintain. They hide the iron fence from view and theft by the scrappers. Yet they are still majestic for their age and help to anchor the building to the property. New ones could be planted. In fact the City Hall grounds should be a landscaped garden that people could walk through and visit. Not loiter! Maybe the shade tree commission could come up with a new plan for the property. I'm sure many in the community would be happy to help with it. The library park should also have the same treatment.
ReplyDeleteThe hedges are a magnificent embellishment to the grounds. It baffles me as to why their removal would be a subject for consideration. Because they are a little harder to trim?
ReplyDeleteOne of Plainfield's former charms was its trees. I can remember when these majestic assets lined virtually every street. As we drive around town now we pass long stretches where there are no trees, or only a few. Their absence transforms what was once a warm residential street into one which is sterile and hugely less attractive. These great old monuments have fallen victims to time, storms and in some instances street alterations. Many of those that remain are in decline. We would have served the public interest greater to have allocated the money spent on the dubious "shot spotter' to replanting these civilizing amenities. The Shade Commission with its miniscule funding can't do it all. But, if every citizen would dig a little hole and plant a tree in front of their house, the transformation would be immediate and miraculous. Bill Kruse
I think the question here is:
ReplyDeleteAre these hedges healthy?
Are these hedges creating moisture not needed on the foundation of city hall?
Can they be safely trimmed to allow for a better shape (right now they do look very tired)?
Has a professional landscape architect been contracted?
What is the plan to replace the hedges?
With this said, sometimes a change is needed, even great landscape designers go ahead and change things around to the shock of others: http://www.gardeninggonewild.com/?p=17257
I concur with Maria... half ass and lack of professionalism is the status quo with Plainfield Government... how about letting a professional landscape architect look at it??? Give an honest opinion ( ie...don't matter what you say... YOU WILL NOT GET THE BUSINESS IF IT NEEDS TO COME OUT ) and go from there.
ReplyDeleteI myself took over the landscaping for a home that hadn't been touched in 20yrs..I saved most of it even with some extreme pruning.
For once... how about it be thought out ( without a committee or study Councilman Storch ) and make a rational decision at that point.
History is something treated with such lack of regard most of the time..respect the history of a property and you'd be amazed what it will give you in return.
I don't think this is a decision that should rest on the Mayor's shoulders. I would email her but since I never, ever, ever received a reply or acknowledgement to any email ever set to her, I won't waste my time.
ReplyDeleteBullets are winging about on Berkman...the PMUA rates are 270% higher than in comparable communities....you can't walk down Central Avenue without be accosted and offered the sale of drugs.....the City budget is somewhere in space....etc. ad nauseum, and the Mayor is focused on removing the yew bushes?
ReplyDeleteThe grand old yews demise may be her parting legacy....
As a licensed landscape architect, with an extensive background in historic preservation and historic landscape surveys, I was asked by the Plainfield Historic Preservation Commission to comment on the proposed replanting of the entrance to City Hall. I had only 2 hours to review the proposed plant material list and was given the design drawing as I walked into the March HPC meeting.
ReplyDeleteWhile speaking to the commission, I explained to them that institutional buildings such as governmental offices have a specific landscape character associated with them. Classically, the landscape plantings are designed to be subordinate while the building is the dominant element in the visible viewshed. The plantings are classically symmetrical, clipped evergreen hedges that reinforce the classical lines of the structure. Seasonal interest is usually provided by a few strategically located large flowering or non-flowering shade trees that provide shade yet do not obscuring the buildings façade.
I was then asked to comment on the proposed plant list. My response was that many of the plants selected were inappropriate due to the relative newness of the species selected specifically the ornamental grass. I further commented that some of the plants selected were not heat, light or salt tolerant and that others were to large and informal in their overall structure and that the utilization was inappropriate in such a formal landscape setting.
At this time, I suggested that the existing yew hedge should be heavily pruned, mulched and left to regenerate itself since the well established root system would easily adapt and regenerate top growth within one to two growing seasons. In doing this, the existing iron fence would be able to be removed, restored and reinstalled. In addition, this would open up the once masked mirrored semicircular seating areas. Installation of the proposed Washington Hawthorn trees would provide needed shade to the seating areas, expose the existing urns and reinforce the semicircular design of the seating areas.
Please note that I did not base by discussion and analysis on personal preferences but instead sound design philosophies.
Respectfully,
April M. Stefel RLA
thank you April.....thank you very much.
DeleteVery well written explanation from an educated and very knowledgable person. Change is not always a good thing such as in this case the yews are magnificent and the city is lucky to have them there. If they do rip them out , I will gladly replant them on my property
DeleteRich Sudol
Rich,
DeleteIs there any empty space on your property for the yews?
The Mayor should reconsider removing the Yew Hedges outside City Hall. As Mr. Kirby correctly pointed out, a Yew, much less a hedge of them, is becoming a rare site here in New Jersey where deer dine on them regularly.
ReplyDeleteIt should also be pointed out that Yews (botanical name Taxus) become more and more valuable as they age. In fact, in England, large Yews are preserved despite the fact they have grown in odd shapes. Please refer to Montacute House and their preserved Yews which are now part of the British National Trust: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/montacute-house/
The Shakespeare Garden in Cedar Brook Park had four large Yew topiary birds which sadly met their demise about ten years ago.
Part of Plainfield's rich legacy are the many of old trees and shrubs that can date back over hundred years. Every effort should be made to embrace their existence and appreciate their beauty.
Sincerely,
Susan Fraser
co-President
Plainfield Garden Club
Founded 1915
www.plainfieldgardenclub.org
Is destroying the hedges outside City Hall going to be one more legacy from our soon to be former mayor?
ReplyDelete