The Trees Are Coming Down On Laugavegur

Many merchants on Reykjavík’s main shopping street are distressed over a recent decision to cut down many of the trees on Laugavegur.

MBL reports that trees along Laugavegur are being cut down, and this has caused no small amount of concern amongst some of the street’s storeowners.

“We are unhappy that trees are being cut down right above our heads, but especially during opening hours,” said Frank Michelsen, owner of the Michelsen watch store.

He asserts the city promised him and other merchants that the trees would not come down until after Christmas, as they can still be used for stringing up lights. The city contends the trees are sick, and need to be removed. Some of the trees removed have been on Laugavegur since it was first revamped about 40 years ago.

“Why couldn’t they wait until after Christmas?,” Frank lamented. “The street looks half toothless like this. We think it’s tragic.”