Erie Street to get Tree Makeover Starting Monday

Erie Street is going to look a lot different starting Monday.

The city will start planting trees on the newly repaved and reconstructed road in the heart of the city's redevelopment.

Kent Arborist Gerald Shanley said in total the city will add 27 trees as part of the redevelopment, and that includes trees on Erie, South Water and South DePeyster streets along with trees in the new parking lot.

Shanley said three varieties of trees will be planted, including London planetrees, elm and zelkova trees.

Once in the ground, the trees will stand about 12 feet tall.

Shanley said the trees won't reach full maturity because of the location.

"In 10 years I hope to have a 25- to 35-foot tree there if we can get 10 years out of them," he said.

Erie Street will see new trees planted between Monday and Wednesday. The new parking lot behind the Davey Tree and AMETEK buildings will be planted on the weekend.

The Davey Tree Expert Co. has been contracted to install the new trees.