SAN DIEGO - A nearly century-old Torrey Pine in Ocean Beach that has been at the center of a dispute between residents and the city of San Diego has finally come down.
City of San Diego crews began chopping down the 73-foot tree at 4652 Saratoga Ave. Monday morning.
The old tree had neighbors divided between those who feared it would fall and wanted it removed and those who thought the tree should stay.
The city was scheduled to remove the tree Aug. 12, but following protests by community activists, chose to hold offat the last minute.
Neighbors have blamed the drought and the city for the tree's condition, alleging city crews did not prune the tree enough.
Independent arborists have given varying prognoses of its condition.
