In Barrie, trees are disappearing as the city tries to prevent the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer.
Delia Dilio says she's shocked at how barren her neighbourhood looks after the City of Barrie removed all the ash trees from her street in its attempt to fight the tree eating Emerald Ash Borer.
Dilio is trying to sell her house and questions whether the lack of trees will have an effect on the value of her house.
The city has already removed more than 250 ash trees from local neighbourhoods and some homeowners say when you take away the beauty of the trees in the neighbourhood your home isn't worth as much.
“It won't look like it's an older neighbourhood and we do need the trees so it is a shame,” says Lilia Harytzak.
Gary Smith of Timeberlane Tree Service says he sympathizes with the neighbours, but the same scenario is playing out across southern Ontario.
“Once we're finished this contract, we're off to Richmond Hill where they have 1,400 ash trees for us to do.”
Real estate officials say it's too early to tell if the clearing of trees will have any impact on the price of homes for sale. The city will be replacing these trees with younger ones in the coming weeks and there will be a variety of trees planted.
The City of Barrie Emerald Ash Borer tree removal project shuts down next month for the winter, before starting up again in early spring with still more than 4,000 trees needed to come down.
