Residents protest plan to destroy tree older than United States

STERLING HEIGHTS — As the fate of a very special tree hangs in the balance, residents of Sterling Heights are speaking up.

A rare chinquapin oak stands in the flood plain on the east side of Van Dyke Avenue, south of Canal Road and north of Riverland Drive. The tree is the seventh largest of its kind in Michigan, according to certifiers with the Michigan Botanical Society. Its age is estimated at nearly 270 years — older than the United States as a nation.

The city of Sterling Heights sold the property to a local nonprofit, which plans to tear down the chinquapin and other trees to build an apartment complex. It would require a cut-and-fill operation, digging up wetlands so the apartments can be raised above the flood plain.

The development would offer affordable living options amid the housing crisis, and the city has programs replacing cut-down trees with new ones. But residents say an alternative approach should be found — one that allows the chinquapin and apartments to coexist.

Residents recently started a website at sterling-oak.org, which features a petition to save the tree. Updates will be posted there, with details about how to get involved.

After reporting on the tree Jan. 22, the Sterling Heights Sentry was contacted by residents sharing their concern.

“I would like to save it,” said Kathryn Hill. “The new trees that the city is planting don’t make up for what this ancient, massive tree already does for us. It’s good for the animals and cleans our air. And when that tree is gone, it’s gone forever — you can’t bring it back.”

Sylvia Biernacki agreed.

“The city says it’s all about goals, like reaching certain (tree) canopies by certain years. But this tree has been here longer than all of us. It has every right to be here,” Biernacki said. “I could understand if it were falling, cracked or about to damage something. But this? Don’t be fooled — the developers can do things a different way.”

 

‘They don’t worry about Mother Earth’
The property is 10.5 acres at 43934 Van Dyke Ave., on the east side next to Henriksen’s Golf and down the street from Zap Zone. The city originally purchased the property for $640,000 using federal funds through the American Rescue Plan Act.

In August 2024, the Sterling Heights City Council voted 5-2 to sell the property to the Chaldean Community Foundation for $60,000, so that the CCF can redevelop the front 2 acres into 82 apartments, a project costing $30 million. Tenants would qualify based on income.

As for the 8 undeveloped acres, they will be deeded back to the city. Those acres back up to the Clinton River, and it’s currently unclear whether they can be developed.

The chinquapin oak is located right where the apartments would be built. The tree was certified by the nonprofit Michigan Botanical Society as part of its Michigan Big Tree Survey. The chinquapin measures 88 feet tall and 14 feet around at breast height, with a crown spread of 84.5 feet, making it the seventh largest tree of its kind in the state.

A formula by the International Society of Arboriculture estimates its age at nearly 270 years, but it could be as old as 300 years.

Several long-time residents said that history is all the more reason to keep the tree.

“I’m 94 years old. I’ve been around a long time. And in that time, it feels like there’s no green land left in Sterling Heights. They’re taking it away,” said Ella Holloway. “Why not build around the tree or leave it alone? It’s ridiculous, all these sticks they’re putting up around town, taking the old trees. This tree should be living, standing. It should not be touched.”

Henry Ziarko — no relation to Barbara Ziarko on the City Council — just turned 80. He has lived in the city for nearly 60 years.

“Unless it’s an act of nature like a lightning strike or strong wind, I want to see it preserved, especially a special tree like this one,” he said. “Can’t they (the developer) alter their plans, and turn things a bit this way or that way so the tree can be spared?”

Gerry Parratto also wants to see the chinquapin saved.

“I’m 85 years old. I’m sick and tired of seeing beautiful trees and shrubbery destroyed. Why do they want to build apartments over it? Why not build around it so it’s preserved, and you can have a beautiful centerpiece for the people who live there? Destroying the tree would just be disrespectful, not only to our country but the Native Americans who lived here first,” she said. “Sterling Heights is just out for all the tax money they can get. They don’t worry about Mother Earth. Let’s start worrying about the next generation, and what they will inherit from us.”

 

The city’s perspective
Voting in favor of the development were Mayor Michael Taylor, Mayor Pro Tem Liz Sierawski, and fellow council members Barbara Ziarko, Michael Radtke and Henry Yanez. Voting against it were council members Deanna Koski and Maria Schmidt. They were reached for comment, as was Martin Manna, the CCF board president. At press time Feb. 13, only Yanez and Radtke replied.

“I wish local newspapers paid as much attention to the housing crisis and the need for housing and planning reform as they did to this single tree,” Radtke said in an email. “People need attainable housing, and Sterling Heights is committed to making itself a greener, more affordable city with a high quality of life. In the coming years, Sterling Heights will plant 15,000 new trees, improve streetscapes, preserve green space, and add tremendous walkability. That bottom line, rather than one tree, is how residents should judge their city government.”

Yanez said that the project appears to have stalled as the CCF seeks approval from the state and federal government.

“Like everyone else, I am waiting to see how this situation progresses,” Yanez said in an email. “I appreciate the passion people have expressed regarding this majestic oak tree, our parkland and our natural spaces. This issue is equally important to me, as are all of the quality-of-life issues we face in Sterling Heights.”

In January, Manna said that the project was still under site plan review, with no timeline set. He previously said that the CCF “are good neighbors,” and that “if we can save (the tree), we will.”

Melanie Davis, spokesperson for the city, said that a study related to the North Van Dyke Avenue Master Plan confirmed a shortage of affordable living options in the area. The report defined “affordable housing” as a home that can be bought or rented for 30% or less of one’s income.

“The lack of affordable and attainable housing can be detrimental to the growth of the city,” read the report. “As the average household shrinks in Sterling Heights, it means more people may be looking for smaller housing units. Even those with large families may be looking to transition to smaller units when their children become adults and move to their own homes.”

Davis also highlighted the city’s longstanding eco-friendly policies. These include a citywide tree inventory, with plans to create green microforests and reforest the city with 18,000 new trees, paid for with grants and dedicated millage funding.

The city also has a tree preservation ordinance that applies to all city development projects. Whenever a “landmark tree” is removed for new construction, the city requires the developer to replace it with new trees, inch for inch. Such efforts have earned Sterling Heights a “Tree City USA” designation from the Arbor Day Foundation for nearly 40 consecutive years.

Rose Pikor is a Sterling Heights resident who feels that preserving a historic tree and providing affordable housing don’t have to be mutually exclusive concepts.

“Sterling Heights wants to be known for saving green space. This is a wonderful opportunity for the city to show that we indeed know how valuable even one tree can be,” Pikor said. “I’m hoping the developer can incorporate this tree into their plans. We can work on both things at the same time — both the housing crisis, and helping people appreciate the beauty and history of this tree.”