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Ibn Gvirol residents wanted leafy trees, not palms By Yigal Hai Palm trees planted along the newly renovated stretch of Ibn Gvirol Street have irked residents, who say the city should have planted trees that provide more shade and greenery. "They should have planted trees with more foliage. The renovation makes everything new and gray, including the palm trunks," says Uzi Goetz, the owner of Chocolate, a store on the southern end of the street. When the residents complained, they were told the city chose palm trees because they require relatively little maintenance. Other trees require frequent pruning, and the pavement beneath them must be cleaned daily. Advertisement "These palms don't form a green lung, and they don't make the street any greener. Trees are supposed to reduce the temperature and cut down on air pollution, thus contributing to the residents' health. Greener means more oxygen, but these palms do none of that. Everyone I've talked to - other business owners, clients and residents - objects to the palms. There used to be wide traffic islands in the center of the street, with a few palm trees and other small trees with wonderful red flowers. But they were torn out," he says. The renovation of Ibn Gvirol, which will total an estimated NIS 100 million, began last year. Underground infrastructures are being upgraded and replaced, power cables are being moved underground, sidewalks are being widened and bicycle lanes added, new street and traffic lights are being installed, and benches are being added. The project stretches the length of Ibn Gvirol, from Marmorek street in the south to the Yarkon river in the north. The construction, which started on the street's southern end, has nearly reached Rabin Square. Before the renovation, the island in the center of the street was filled with trees and shrubs, including palms. Along the renovated section, the islands now contain a single row of palm trees of uniform height. The trees growing on the sidewalks lining the street also will be replaced. Zehava Lavi, who has been living on Ibn Gvirol for the past 30 years, says the palm trees were a bad choice. "Israel is a hot country, and its residents need shady, cool, green areas. What are those palm trees going to contribute?" she asks. "They make the street look like a desert. Perhaps they don't need a lot of water, work or care, but this is a very busy street and we need trees to give it more green, more flowers. It's too bad they didn't consult with us." Meir Hafif, owner of the hair salon on Ibn Gvirol 13, also blasted the decision. "These tall palms don't add any decoration. They should have planted shorter trees with more flowers and shade," he says. Dafna Mangan-Trinin, a former planner with the Tel Aviv branch of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, says the trees farther down the street are now blooming in purple, yellow and red. "Trees have many roles on a street: ornamentation, shade, a connection to nature and the seasons. As a densely built street, Ibn Gvirol especially needs green trees with wide branches and dense foliage - to provide a green view from the windows and a buffer between the city and home," she says. "A tree that blooms in spring and sheds its leaves in autumn gives the city's residents a little taste of nature. A shade-giving tree on the sidewalk invites pedestrians to walk in its shade instead of driving, and a large green tree helps reduce air pollution. As a crowded city with a lot of air pollution, Tel Aviv desperately needs such trees. The palms are very tall, have very little green and don't change with the seasons," she says. Municipality spokesman Hillel Partok comments: "The trees in the Ibn Gvirol project were carefully selected after all parameters were examined and based on a poll of professionals. A tree must absorb soot and smoke, sustain root cutting, consume a minimum quantity of water, require minimum pruning, etc. The trees along the pavement will absorb the soot and smoke, while the palms in the median strip will enhance the tidy look of this central thoroughfare." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Fragile cease-fire Olmert: Gaza cease-fire is fragile, may be short lived. Unbalanced stance Italy FM: EU stance on Israel in past swayed by intolerance.   1.   Trees: City planners here understand nothing 06:50  |  dov 22/06/07   2.   STOP MOANING! it`s never enough 15:38  |  Sammy 22/06/07   3.   Re #1 20:01  |  bleh 22/06/07   4.   oh give us shade trees already 00:08  |  Former American 23/06/07   5.   Strange term 01:37  |  Gideon 23/06/07   6.   I like palm trees so there RIGHT ??? 04:14  |  M. Segal 23/06/07   7.   "green lungs" explained 18:24  |  avi 19/06/08

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