Old World Charm, Modern Living: Nob HIll Condo
Beautiful, renovated Victorian condo!
Garage parking! Top floor!
Walking distance to everything!
Fun neighborhood!
Watching my dog’s fascination with all of the discarded Christmas trees in the neighborhood as we walked this morning, I was reminded of a recent article in the Chronicle about San Francisco’s ordinance to preserve special trees in the city. In 2005, a law sponsored by Supervisor Jake McGoldrick, gave the city the right to designate trees with Landmark Status. So far, 33 have received the designation by the Landmark Tree Committee, a subcommittee of the Urban Forestry Council. Nine have been rejected–although it is hard to find information about these trees.
I also checked into the city’s rules on cutting trees that don’t have Landmark status: A property owner needs permits to cut down AND plant trees in the city of San Francisco. Maintenance of trees and sidewalks in front of the house are the home-owner’s responsibility (even though the land is the city’s). According to Tammy Key, a San Francisco based landscape architect and owner of Garden Spaces, "This is also true for trees in your backyard. Usually the city wants replacement trees for those that are removed in the rear of your property, as well as the front. They like to be involved with the process because they know what will grow well in the city."
Back to my dog, Stripe, and the Christmas Trees. For those of you starting to plan for next year, check out Friends of the Urban Forest’s innovative Christmas Tree program. Each year, many San Franciscan’s elect to adopt a living, potted tree from Friends of the Urban Forest, which they can decorate and use in their homes for the month of December. Following the holidays, the tree is planted on the street, somewhere in the city.
