Three trees were removed Monday at Monroe and Laura streets near Magnificat Café.
The trees were just a few feet from the construction on Laura Street, but project manager and Jacksonville Economic Development Commission Deputy Executive Director Paul Crawford said the removal was a separate, but related, job that’s being handled by the City Public Works Department.
Crawford said the trees were in decline and beginning to drop limbs on the roof of the adjacent building. Another factor was their roots were pushing up the sidewalk and creating a hazard for pedestrians.
Crawford said after the sidewalk is repaired, the trees will be replaced with specimens similar to those that will be installed along Laura Street, most likely Drake elms.
That variety is often used in urban areas because it provides ample shade, blooms in the spring and thrives in a downtown environment.