Where have all the trees gone?

Anyone else noticed the new minimalist look of Highland Ave. (at Virginia)? For some reason, city workers cut down all the trees last week. I assume there's necessity behind that decision, but aesthetically it's an unwelcome flashback to a time when Atlanta was bereft of much greenery:

UPDATE: My most reliable source on all things Atlanta, Bobby Bubbles, informed me that Bradford Pear trees don't age well, hence the mass clearing. There is good news -- the sidewaks will be enlarged, according to B squared, and fast-growing Japanese elms will be planted.

(Pic of Highland Ave., circa 1949, courtesy of Atlanta Time Machine)

Comments

[mingaling]

I just noticed that today! I wsa trying to figure out why it was so bright and hot out, and I saw those sad little stumps left. I couldn't find any more info. on it.

[Robert]

In the year that I've been loving in our ATL apartment, the Bradford Pear trees took out the power lines for our building and fallen branches blocked our driveaway.