Tree and occupant come down for good

EVERETT – The tree and mannequin outside the Best Little Doorhouse came down with a thud Friday.

Dan Duncan, owner of the garage door business on Hewitt Avenue, buzzed through the base of the tree with a chain saw, and also zipped off the mannequin’s head.

Julie Busch / The Herald Dan Duncan cuts up a maple tree outside his business on Friday, along with a mannequin that was strapped to the top of the tree.

Duncan had strapped the dummy to the tree twice in protest to the city’s refusal to remove the maple outside his business. The city agreed to let Duncan cut down the tree Thursday, saying that it was “virtually destroyed” after Duncan pruned it to sticklike dimensions.

Duncan said the tree was a nuisance, tearing up the sidewalk and damaging water pipes.

He had submitted an application to have it removed, but had been told he couldn’t cut it down.

The city said that the tree’s status would have been reviewed during an upcoming sidewalk replacement project outside the business.

Residents are required to maintain trees in the public right of way but must get permission to remove those trees.