Dear Renaissance Homes:
 
We are a group of longstanding neighbors concerned about preserving the character of our neighborhood as well as the true and rare treasure at 7301 SW 26th, most specifically the forested trees, 100+ years old, home to native wildlife, who count on this wooded sanctuary as their habitat and for survival.  These trees are on the original homestead land and called this neighborhood home long before any other houses were here and when wildlife corridors were uninterrupted. Multnomah Village’s preservation and appreciation of urban trees and their rich history (and what they have offered all of us in terms of quality of living) are an extension of our souls, quality of life, and community spirit.
 
We are requesting the following:
 
1. We request an in person meeting between Renaissance and neighborhood representatives
2. Preservation of the 150-foot mother tree and at least 75% of trees on the lots

Thank you 

Support articles and explanation for importance of preserving trees: 
https://www.oregonmetro.gov/news/wildlife-corridors-protect-animals-big-and-small
 
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/02/climate/trees-cities-heat-waves.html?smid=url-share
 
Trees Reduce Air Pollution
Trees and other plants make their own food from carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, water, sunlight and a small amount of soil elements. In the process, they release oxygen (O2) for us to breathe by storing carbon in their roots and trunk and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere. Trees also:
-Help to settle out, trap and hold particle pollutants (dust, ash, pollen and smoke) that can damage human lungs.
-Absorb CO2 and other dangerous gasses while replenishing the oxygen.
-Produce enough oxygen on each acre for 18 people every day.
-Trees remove gaseous pollutants by absorbing them through the pores in the leaf surface. Particulates are trapped and filtered by leaves, stems and twigs, and washed to the ground by rainfall.
 
The loss of trees in our urban areas not only intensifies the urban "heat-island" effect, but we lose a principal absorber of carbon dioxide and trapper of other air pollutants as well.
 
Trees Fight the Atmospheric Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect is created when heat from the sun is prevented from radiating back into space by air-polluting gasses. Heat buildup threatens to raise global temperatures to levels unprecedented in human history. About half of the greenhouse effect is caused by CO2.
Trees remove the carbon from CO2 and store it as cellulose in the trunk while releasing the oxygen back into the air. This combination of CO2 removal from the atmosphere, carbon storage in wood, and the cooling effect makes trees a very efficient tool in fighting the greenhouse effect.
 
Trees Conserve Water and Reduce Soil Erosion
Trees create organic matter on the soil surface from their leaf litter. Their rootsincrease soil permeability for water storage and filtration resulting in reduced water runoff from storms; reduced soil erosion and reduced sedimentation in streams. Trees increase groundwater recharge of our water tables.Trees reduce the amount of chemicals transported to streams.
   
Trees Modify Local Climate
Trees help cool the "heat island" effect in Portland. These islands result from storage of thermal energy in concrete, steel, and asphalt. The collective effect of a large area of transpiring trees (evaporating water) reduces the air temperature in these areas as well as by providing shade.
In our dry summers, trees increase humidity through evaporation of moisture.  They reduce glare on sunny days and moderate damaging winds.