Fallen Branch from Historic Tree Causes Blackout in Scarsdale Village

On Friday July 18 at around 3:00 PM a huge limb--now visibly hollowed--broke off a towering black oak and fell onto Autenreith Road, blocking traffic and causing a blackout on both sides of the street. A resident says, “It was a miracle no one was hurt on this heavily traveled side street where motorists speed in and out of downtown 24/7 and pedestrians walk without sidewalks. I phoned Con Ed and Scarsdale Police(SPD) who told me that the Department of Public Works(DPW) had already been informed. The mammoth front loader from the Scarsdale Highway Department arrived quickly. They chain sawed and cleared the debris in a couple of hours.”

She continued, “Fortunately, while the impact tripped the transformer near my driveway Con Ed was able to restore power as soon as the road was cleared. Neighbors are grateful to SPD, DPW and Con Ed.”

But what about this 300 year-old tree that was the subject of a preservation campaign after a developer filed plans to renovate a home on the property?

In August 2024, neighbors rallied to save the tree which they say is among the oldest in Scarsdale. Plans to renovate a home at 21 Autenreith Road would put the roots of the tree in peril and they called in Jennifer Bernstein, CEO of the New York Botanical Garden to see they tree who said, “Mature trees like this beautiful black oak provide critical environmental services including oxygen, shade, stormwater mitigation, and wildlife habitat. Scarsdale is a part of the Bronx River watershed, and like all communities within the watershed, the treatment Scarsdale affords its mature trees has ramifications beyond its borders. NYBG strives to educate our surrounding communities that healthy trees and healthy yards contribute to a healthy river and ecosystem.”

Sadly after all this effort, the large branch that fell posed risks to residents, the landscape and the infrastructure. What to do now?

There's speculation about what the Village can or will do about the tree, which is near the road but may not be entirely within the right of way. Will they send in an arborist to evaluate it? Is the rest of the tree healthy enough to stand? The developer of the property, 21 Autenrieth, appears to have halted work recently and rumors have it that they are trying to sell before finishing their renovation. So for now, the fate of one of Scarsdale’s oldest trees hangs in the balance.

Jennifer Bernstein, CEO of the NYBG with Bill Roberts in August 2024.