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# Santa Monica removes 23 ficus trees after court clears City Hall project
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/052708-story/
- Published: 2008-05-27T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T19:42:58.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Government & Politics, Santa Monica, #archive-import

ficus trees. A restraining order was issued against City Hall just days before construction was expected to commence.

City Hall recently prevailed on the lawsuit when the California Appellate Court denied the Treesavers’ petition to challenge the project. The 23 ficus trees identified as being structurally unstable recently came down and the remaining seven trees slated for relocation — shaved down from the original 31 — have yet to be moved. More than half of the contract increase is to cover design development of tree up-lighting. The remainder is attributed to the litigation.

“Due to the delay in construction from the ficus tree restraining order, costs for construction support design services are anticipated to increase by $22,000,” according to a city staff report.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 27, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/052708.pdf?ref=smdp.com)