The handful of tree saplings the National Park Service planted near the Watergate complex may seem harmless now — but the Watergate’s residents say it’s only a matter of time.
Watergate condo owners say the sycamore trees — less than 10 feet now — eventually will grow so tall, they’ll ruin the view of the Potomac River for which residents paid so handsomely.
“Those of us who live there bought these places because of the view,” said Liz Sara, who represents the Watergate South board of directors. “If the Watergate property values go down, the rest of Foggy Bottom property values go down.”
The group is trying to make the park service remove the row of sycamores planted along the water’s edge between the Kennedy Center and Virginia Avenue during the summer of 2009. Among its exhibits is a 2003 guide to mid-Atlantic forest trees, which states sycamores can reach heights of up to 140 feet and widths of 10 feet. However, most online reference guides top out sycamores at 100 feet tall.
At a rate of about 6 feet per year, the treetops would reach Sara’s sixth floor condominium view in about a decade.
“I don’t think it’ll take that long,” said the 12-year resident, noting that residents below her will have their views blocked sooner by the trees.
The park service says it is replacing trees that were ripped out during construction of the Watergate and Kennedy Center in the 1960s. Spokesman Bill Line said the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway Plan from the early 1930s calls for sycamores to be maintained along that stretch of the parkway, which is owned by the park service.
“The park service in the past has not had the funding to go forward with the planting of these trees,” Line said. “About two years ago, funding became available. … We’re trying to keep it as historically accurate as we can.”
Six months after the trees were planted, the Foggy Bottom Advisory Neighborhood Commission wrote to the park service protesting them. The fight has been on since then, with residents asking the agency to replace the trees with shorter greenery and the agency maintaining it will not pay for replanting costs.
“We will discuss the issue further if the Watergate property owners were collectively able to pay for everything,” Line said.
Sara said property owners are willing to pay. Line said he did not have an estimate available.
Residents have sought support from local officials, and Sara said Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans and D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton sent letters to the National Capital Planning Commission.
Line said the park service is “looking into” the possibility of planting a shorter variety of sycamore. It is scheduled to deliver its findings before the planning commission Thursday, after which the panel is expected to vote on the issue.
