Attachment_12,_Tree_evaluation_report_cost_appraisal_attachment_1.pdf

Arboriculture Services 154 Buffam Road □ Pelham, Massachusetts 01002

David C. Hawkins – Consulting Arborist Office/Fax: 413-253-4266 Mobile: 413-237-5106

Email: dhawkufs@comcast.net Web: www.ufstrees.com

November 29, 2018

Robert Mulcahy, Project Manager

Friends of the Public Garden

69 Beacon Street

Boston, MA 02108

RE: Shaw Memorial Elms – Landscape Value Appraisal

Dear Mr. Mulcahy, It was nice meeting with you, Normand Helie and Greg Mossman on the Boston

Common this past Monday to discuss and inspect the 4 large English elms next to and near the Shaw Memorial. As we discussed, the memorial is scheduled for an extensive renovation and possible impact from construction is a concern. You have asked that I appraise the landscape value of these trees for informational purposes and to provide an incentive to those involved with the renovation to follow the tree protection specifications during the reconstruction project.

The following pages describe the trees and explain the appraisal process used to arrive at the value for each tree.

Thank you for the opportunity to assist you with this matter. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or need additional services.

Best regards, David Hawkins, Consulting Arborist

Urban Forestry Solutions, Inc.

Friends of the Public Garden Tree Appraisal Report November 29, 2018 Attn: Robert Mulcahy Shaw Memorial Elms

Prepared by:

Urban Forestry Solutions, Inc. Page 2 of 4

Introduction

Four large, historical English elms (Ulmus procera), estimated to be well over

200 years old, are next to and near the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial located in the northeast corner of the Boston Common and opposite the State House. The

Shaw Memorial is scheduled for reconstruction and there is concern this process may impact the trees if proper tree protection protocol is not followed. Urban

Forestry Solutions, Inc. was asked to provide a landscape value for the trees to inform the public of their worth and as an incentive to follow tree protection specifications for this project.

The four elms range in trunk diameter, estimated at 4.5 feet high, from 59 inches to 66 inches. However, their height is very disproportionate to trunk size due to significant reduction pruning of the trees’ crown in order to reduce the risks of branch or tree failure in this heavily used area. This has been done gradually over the past few decades; yet the trees have been intensively maintained during this period including regular monitoring for health, continued pruning, insect and disease monitoring and control, and periodic fertilizer applications.

The four trees are listed in the table on page 4. Tree #1 and #2 are located on the east and west sides within the memorial brick paved area. Trees #3 and #4 are behind (south) of the memorial and part of the Boston Common landscape.

These are identified as east (#3) and west (#4).

Placing a value on the Shaw Memorial elms considered the trees’ attributes as well as inherent and physical flaws such as disease susceptibility (primarily

Dutch elm disease), and their present stunted form and the lack of natural tree structure associated with large urban shade trees. The appraisal method and calculations are explained and summarized on the following pages.

Urban Forestry Solutions, Inc. Page 3 of 4

Tree Appraisal Method

The four English elms were appraised using the trunk formula method. This is a standard procedure implemented by the horticultural industry for placing values on landscape trees considered too large to be replaced in normal landscape operations, or in areas where actual replacement is not feasible. This method can be found in Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers Guide for Plant

Appraisal 9th Edition1.

In this case the trees’ value will not be calculated using actual replacement costs, but rather a depreciated replacement cost method that is based on the cost to install a smaller nursery grown tree (3-inch caliper) and then adjusted to compensate for the size, condition and location of the appraised tree.

I used the installed cost of a 3-inch caliper American elm cultivar (Ulmus americana ‘Princeton’) to calculate a unit cost per square inch of trunk area. This unit cost was then applied to the larger, appraised tree to arrive at what is termed the Basic Value (a perfect tree in a perfect location offering maximum benefits).

This Basic Value is then adjusted (depreciated) according to the tree’s species, condition at the time of the assessment, and location (what it provides to the landscape).

The first depreciation factor considers the trees’ Species Rating which is listed in the Tree Species and Rating Guide for New England.2 According to this publication English elms have a species rating of 60 percent (a 40 percent depreciation in value). The second depreciation factor, the Condition Rating, is based my November 26th inspection of the trees and discussions with Normand

12000. 9th Edition. Prepared under contract by the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers. Published and edited by the International Society of Arboriculture.

22003. Official publication of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture.

Urban Forestry Solutions, Inc. Page 4 of 4

Helie who maintains these trees. A condition rating range of 62 to 75 percent was assigned.

The last depreciation factor, the Location Rating, considers the Site - the area of property in general (95 percent), Contribution of the tree to the site (85 percent);

and Placement of the tree in the landscape (20 to 40 percent). The site, contribution and placement each account for one third of the Location Factor.

These were then averaged together for a total location rating of 62 to 73 percent.

The table below summarizes the tree’s landscape value using the Trunk Formula

Method

No. Species DBH ATA

TA - 7

inch

Basic Price

Species Rating

Cond.

Rating

Loc.

Rating

Appr.

Value

English Elm Shaw Mem. East 59.0 1836 1829 $251,789 60% 62% 67% $62,756

English Elm Shaw Mem. West 62.0 1922 1915 $263,583 60% 62% 67% $65,695

English Elm Common East 66.0 2028 2021 $278,120 60% 75% 73% $91,362

English Elm Common West 62.0 1922 1915 $263,583 60% 75% 73% $86,587

Total $306,400.

DBH = Trunk diameter measured 4.5 feet above ground level or where it best represents tree size

ATA = Trunk area in square inches. Adjusted from actual trunk area to compensate for slow growth of older trees (Guide for Plant Appraisal 9th Ed. Page 35).

Adj. TA = Trunk area of appraised tree - Trunk area of replacement tree (3.0-inch dia. = 7 sq.in.)

Basic Price = Cost per square inch x (TA-7) + installed cost of replacement tree

Urban Forestry Solutions, Inc. Page 5 of 4

Certification

I certify the statements in this report are, to the best of my knowledge, true, accurate and represent my professional opinion.

Date November 29, 2018

Certified Arborist: Mass. Arborists Association MCA#1425

International Society of Arboriculture

Board Certified Master Arborist ISA# NE-0541-B

Licensed Arborist: Rhode Island Department of

Environmental Management RI # 696

Member: American Society of Consulting Arborists

Member: The Tree Care Industry

Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ)

International Society of Arboriculture March 2014/Renew October 2018

Mass. Tree Wardens and Foresters Assoc.

Executive Board Member; Secretary