C Street, NE Finally Gets Trees!

After 2 years of persistent requests, RCA's Transportation Committee successfully lobbied DC government to plant trees along C Street, NE curb-line (tree-boxes) from 21st to 16th Streets. The trees are a welcome addition and are part of a greater goal to reduce vehicular noise and air pollution, heat-island effects and motorist line-of-sight (to reduce vehicular speeds) on C Street, NE.


Before - Corner of C St. & 17th Pl.


After - Corner of C St. & 17th Pl. (Sycamore tree)

A big thank you to Forest Hayes, Co-Ward 6 Outreach and Services Specialist with
Mayor's Office of Community Relations and Services, for making the 1-1/2 year old service request a priority.


South side of C Street, NE in front of Eliot-Hines JHS (Maple trees)

Unfortunately, DDOT's experimental attempt at planting trees (four different species) in the C Street median failed (less a few survivors) 2 years ago. The trees were unable to survive the harsh expansive asphalted environment and presumably succumb to pollution, heat and dehydration.

C Street Beautification

RCA (Rosedale Citizens Alliance) has been collaborating with DDOT's Urban Forestry Administration (UFA) to replant missing and dead trees along the curbsides of C Street, NE from 21st to 15th Streets.

UFA's Michael Chuko, ISA Certified Arborist, has just informed RCA that his team will be replanting the requested trees (saplings) this fall! The tree species include sweet-gum, sycamore, black-gum, depending on availability.

RCA has requested, and volunteered to distribute, informational fliers requesting residents adopt the saplings and inform them how to nurture, maintain and who to contact if problems arise. Michael stated UFA will provide informative "door-hangers" and inquire about the feasibility of fliers with the above information.

Thanks UFA, especially Michael Chuko, for working with us and providing our neighborhoods with an invaluable living resource that will hopefully last a lifetime!

Would you like a tree box?

In March, RCA received a small grant from DC GROW to construct treeboxes around the neighborhood. A "treebox" is a bed of flowers or shrubs that stands in the patch of ground between the sidewalk and the street (it doesn't actually have to surround a tree). GROW pays for half the cost, and the resident whose house stands in front of the treebox pays the other half and agrees to water the plants in the treebox. RCA is responsible for finding residents who want a treebox.

As of May, two have already been constructed (see above). There is money available to fund several more. If you live in Rosedale, and would like a treebox in front of your house, contact RCA at rosedalecitizensalliance@gmail.com.