HAPPY VALLEY, Ore. -- Property owners and managers were furious that 32 trees were cut down along 82nd Avenue and Boyer Street without their consent.
A tree services estimated the replacement cost at $20,000 per tree, a $640,000 act of vandalism.
The 20-year-old trees line several large parking lots on the east side of 82nd Avenue.
The four property owners, all out of state, were contacted by KGW and none said they cut down the trees. Furious, all said they would seek restitution from whomever did the damage.
The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office was investigating an allegation that the local managers of a national firm that leases property in the area were were responsible for cutting down the trees.
"When you rent space that far off 82nd it's cheap," said a property manager Gayle Makin. "If you try to get a corner location next to 82nd, it's very expensive, so they tried to buy cheap rent and make their property like 82nd frontage it appears."
A local employee of that company declined comment and referred questions to the company's corporate headquarters. KGW has not heard back from the company.
