The six street trees next to the former Harvey Family Funeral Home site at 508 N. 36th St., known locally as the Solstice Trees, are coming down after the Seattle Department of Transportation upheld its decision to approve their removal.
SDOT announced the final decision on Sept. 11 following a Director’s Review prompted by a formal challenge from Tree Action Seattle and public comments from neighbors. The review process began in early July and took more than two months to conclude.
In its decision, SDOT said the trees have “a low feasibility for retention due to the impacts sustained during construction.”
“Their survivability remains uncertain since these trees would undergo serious and prolonged stress, which could result in the loss of these trees shortly after construction is completed,” SDOT said.
The department also said approving the removal allows for full construction of improvements, including new ADA-compliant ramps, sidewalks, bike racks, and planting strip upgrades.
Fourteen replacement trees with understory plantings and an automated irrigation system are planned along N 36th Street, Evanston Avenue N, and Dayton Avenue N.
The removal covers the three red maples on N 36th Street, two incense cedars on Evanston Avenue N, and one ash tree on Dayton Avenue N that Fremont Neighbor has covered since the notices first appeared in late May.
The trees are being removed to make way for the Frank, a seven-story, 169-unit building with ground-floor retail being developed by Prometheus Real Estate Group with Exxel Pacific as general contractor.
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