Not only are the Coral trees in danger but so are the Eucalyptus trees which are an integral part of
Brentwood and for that matter the state of California. It is disheartening to see new development projects removing these trees a bit at a time especially when they claim to be attracted to
Brentwood by the beauty of the trees.
There is a grove of Eucalyptus trees that run along two strips of residential areas, Saltair Terrace,
Saltair Avenue and South Westgate Avenue which form a natural gully to drain rainwater. This grove is located in back of private properties not posing any public safety problems. There are
approximately 250 of these trees which were planted in the 1800s. They have been estimated by
an arborist to be 150 years old. Though they may be fast growing, it takes a long time for these
trees to reac
h their present magnificence.
There is a publication entitled The Eucalyptus of California by Robert L. Santos published in
1997 which states that Eucalyptus groves are important because they provide many aspects of positive environmental effects. These trees disinfect and clean the air we breathe; the gum from the trees fights off insects; the trees retain humidity and moisture to the soil and prevent erosion. They also provide aesthetic importance which enhances our life style. Cutting these trees down will upset the ecology and historic integrity of the community. It will also lower the property values.
According to Robert Santos, California was once barren until the introduction of Eucalyptus trees
which were brought to Los Angeles from Australia in the1800s. Ellwood Cooper, the President of
Santa Barbara College at the time, stated that the world needed the eucalyptus for the planet’s
well being. A successor to Cooper was Abbot Kinney of Los Angeles. He was Chairman of the California Board of Forestry from 1886-1888 during which time he launched a program that resulted in the planting of thousands of eucalyptus. These trees are part of California’s invaluable legacy that should be saved for many generations to come in the future.
We as a community need to respect and protect this valuable gift, which is an important part of
Brentwood.
An application has already been submitted to the Office of Historic Resources in the City of Los Angeles requesting that this Eucalyptus grove be designated as an Historic-Cultural Monument.
If you agree with the above sentiment, please send an email stating that you support the Brentwood Eucalyptus Grove designated as a Historic-Cultural Monument to the Office of Cultural Heritage Commission at:
chc@lacity.org
