Neighbors Rally to Save 100-Year-Old Redwood

Residents held a candlelight vigil as plans to redevelop a North Portland property put the tree on the chopping block.

Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Home Renovation

Photograph of a massive old coastal redwood trunk rising through a damp residential lawn, with ferns at its base and misty conifers behind. — Neighbors held a candlelight vigil Wednesday night to save a 100-year-old redwood in Portland's University Park, slated for removal as the property is redeveloped. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Neighbors gathered around a 100-year-old coastal redwood in a candlelight vigil on Wednesday night. The tree is slated to come down as the property in North Portland's University Park neighborhood is redeveloped.

Why it matters

The dispute pits neighborhood tree preservation against residential redevelopment in Portland. Officials had reportedly told the neighborhood the tree would remain before it was targeted for removal.

The redwood is about 100 years old, while neighbors estimate its age at 126 years, and the site is planned for six single-family homes. The city has approved a deconstruction permit, but whether the tree's removal can still be halted is not addressed in the source.

The details

Neighbors held a candlelight vigil around the tree on Wednesday night. The city approved a deconstruction permit for the property, and the tree, which officials had said would remain, is now expected to be removed later this month.

Wednesday night: Neighbors hold candlelight vigil for the redwood.
Later this month: The redwood is expected to be removed.

Seasonal Patterns

The removal of a century-old redwood during Portland's residential redevelopment boom illustrates how city-approved deconstruction permits can override neighborhood attachment to mature trees. Portland's urban canopy debates often center on the same tension between infill housing and established vegetation.

Portland homeowners and neighbors should be aware that city-approved deconstruction permits can authorize removal of established trees on redeveloped lots. Residents concerned about mature trees on nearby properties may need to engage early with permitting and neighborhood processes.

The takeaway

Mature trees on redevelopment sites can be lost even after assurances they will stay, so neighbors wanting to protect them should monitor permits closely. Early engagement with city permitting can matter more than late-stage advocacy.