Sarasota County will soon begin removing 42 black olive trees along West Dearborn Street in Englewood, citing storm damage, safety hazards, and high maintenance costs.
Thirty-six of the trees are located on the west side of the street, and six are located on the south side. The black olives were planted in 2022 as part of a streetscape project, but have since struggled. According to Sarasota County’s website, many trees are leaning, creating overhead hazards for pedestrians and vehicles. Others have root systems that have pushed up sidewalks, making the walkways uneven and unsafe.
County officials said maintenance costs for the black olives have continued to grow, and replacing them with Christmas palms will reduce long-term expenses. The palms require less irrigation, are more drought resistant, and already line the south side of the corridor.
According to Sarasota County, the black olive trees will most likely not be relocated. Officials said the selected vendor, whom has not yet been determined, will be responsible for the removal and disposal of the trees, but it is unlikely they will be able to offer the trees to citizens “…due to liability concerns.”
The project is expected to cause intermittent disruptions to on-street parking in front of businesses on West Dearborn Street. Construction timelines have not yet been released, but county representatives confirmed the tree removal and replacement will begin soon.
