Pacific Street Loses 20 Trees

The deed has been done. Today developer Forest City Ratner cut down 20 street trees to make way for more construction at Atlantic Yards.

Pacific Street residents were horrified when they learned of the plan about three weeks ago, saying that the decade-old trees were one of the only things that made living next to the construction site bearable 

The Parks Department gave developer Forest City Ratner the go-ahead to remove those trees, along with 66 others, in 2008 as part of approval for construction of the Barclays Center, residential highrise mega-project. Ratner has promised to replant 99 trees once construction is done, but the trees don't have to be returned to the same spots, a Parks Department spokeswoman said.

Forest City Rater intends to return the trees to Pacific Street, spokeswoman Ashley Cotton said last month. But when they will return remains unclear.

"We will get then in as soon as possible, but we will not replace the trees before we know our work is done," she said.

Thanks to Dean Street Block Association President Peter Krashes for providing the photos.