Neighborhood’s 60-Foot Pine Falls to Developer’s Ax

It was more then merely a large tree. Planted more than 30 years ago at 43rd Street and Central Avenue as an optimistic symbol of growth in South-Central Los Angeles, the towering pine was the neighborhood Christmas tree, a place where children would celebrate the holiday with donated gifts. But the children will have to celebrate somewhere else this year. Somebody--a land developer--has cut the 60-foot tree down.

“I’m horrified anyone would cut down such a gorgeous tree,” said Councilwoman Rita Walters, who inherited the tree when she was elected to represent the 9th Council District. “It was our great big Christmas tree.”

On Saturday, the new owners of the vacant lot had the tree axed. Silas Ujorji, vice president of Si-Nor Inc., which is reportedly going to develop the lot, was a bit perplexed by all the fuss.

“It is something wrong with cutting it down?” he asked a reporter.

Anthony Scott, director of Dunbar Economic Development Corp., a neighborhood nonprofit organization, said he came to work Saturday and found the tree was gone.

“I asked the people why they cut it down. The guy told me they didn’t need it anymore. It was a community treasure.”

Jan Perry, Walters’ chief of staff, said she talked to Ujorji. “He told me someone from the city said he could cut the tree down. But he didn’t know who that person was. It’s the height of insensitivity. You would think he would have known the tree was special. It still had Christmas ornaments on it. We want him to plant another large tree.”

On Aug. 28, 1964, then-Councilman Gilbert Lindsey planted a four-foot pine that was meant to symbolized the growth of the 9th District.

The tree would grow 15 times that size, becoming something of a beloved symbol to the neighborhood.

At the nearby Dunbar Hotel / Apartments, property manager Lora Smith was shocked to notice the tree gone.

“I came to work today and, gosh, our tree was gone. What’s going on?” she said.

Charles Miles, 54, remembered when the tree was planted. “It was a little thing. I moved away and when I came back it was huge. I was around here Sunday and something seemed very strange. Then I realized the tree was gone.”

Few people will miss the tree more than 10-year-old Michael Windell. For the last three years he has enjoyed the Christmas celebration there, usually receiving a new shirt, pants and hat donated by Walters’ office.

“It’s sad,” Michael said. “That tree never bothered anyone.”

His friend Daniel Serrano, 9, echoed the sentiments. “Everybody liked that tree.”