200-year-old historic oak leveled by developers on Earth Day
After months of heated debate, both inside and outside of Long Beach City Hall, on April 22, also Earth Day, developers moved forward with plans to remove a nearly 200-year-old oak tree perched downtown at the corner of 4th Street and Jeff Davis Avenue.
Many residents say they were shocked by the sudden removal of the historic tree, with roots older than even the existence of Long Beach as a city. As work got underway to remove the tree that Saturday morning, word spread quickly, drawing a crowd of dozens who watched with sadness, disbelief and anger over the tree’s dismantling.
Some recorded the event. Others expressed shock over the fact it was even happening, considering the open discussions and outrage expressed in public and private forums over developers’ plans to remove the aged tree, as well as another oak situated on the property, to make way for a boutique hotel. Most said that the fact that work was being completed by masked workers, who worked from unmarked vehicles at the site, on Earth Day was like rubbing salt in their wounds. Before the tree was cut down, thousands of people had signed a petition requesting the city to stop developers with Phenom Investments, LLC, from removing the trees.
According to a post on the City of Long Beach’s Facebook page, the Planning and Development Commission gave conditional approval to remove the tree in December of 2022, pending submission of site plans from the property developers. According to the City, the Community Development Committee approved submitted plans for the hotel development on April 19, and two days later, on Friday, April 21, a permit was issued for the developer to remove the tree after all fees were paid that day. The next day, April 22, the oak tree was cut down. 
