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New Life for the Hoen Building:
Invasive trees removed from Hoen project

When the project team purchased the Hoen & Co. complex in December of 2017, we noticed that the site was overrun by trees. They grew in the walls, in the chimney and between buildings. Beyond being a nuisance and an eyesore, the trees threatened the structural integrity of the buildings, which prevented us from beginning construction. It became apparent that for us to realize our grand vision for transforming this historic industrial complex into a thriving neighborhood asset, we needed to completely clear the site of these trees, regardless of how long or tedious the process was.

During our research into these trees and how to remove them, we learned quite a bit about them. The paulownia tree is an invasive, weed-like tree that is abundant in Baltimore and other cities on the East Coast. It is hardy, difficult and expensive to remove, and can grow almost anywhere. They also grow very fast; one paulownia tree can grow 12’ in just one summer. One of the most successful methods to remove these trees is to inject them with biocide. However, the CSP team decided against that method due to our commitment to sustainability and positive environmental impact.

Instead, the first step in removal of the trees was to remove all the surrounding masonry. We used a special temporary shoring to hold up the roof and stabilize the walls during this process. Next, a special carbide saw blade was used to cut through the tree and brick. Then we had to carefully remove the stump and roots, ensuring that every single particle of the tree was removed. Moving forward, our next step is to rebuild the wall and seal it tightly with brick and mortar.

The specific trees at Hoen & Co. are estimated to be 35-40 years old. The largest one was approximately 30” in diameter. The trees grew between the bricks and the wall, pushing the brick out. There are several smaller ones still growing on the property, but we removed the largest and most significant ones. Getting rid of these trees was an important step in stabilizing the buildings so we can begin the next steps of construction.

Once complete, Hoen & Co. will become the Center for Neighborhood Innovation (CNI), a new model for neighborhood transformation. The CNI will house non-profits, social entrepreneurs, service providers, researchers and community members who share the same goal of helping local residents solve the issues facing distressed neighborhoods and creating positive community change. The center will provide adult education services, workforce training and development, public spaces and other community resources. Removing the paulownia trees at the building site is one of the very first steps in a long and exciting journey to restoring this historic building and creating an innovation and service-based hub.

History of the Paulownia Trees

The Paulownia tree arrived from China and Japan in the 1800s, when exporters used the tree’s soft pods as a packing material before the invention of Styrofoam packing material. When packages broke or the employees tossed the pods aside, birds scavenged the seeds inside the pods, scattering them around the country.

The tree is highly valued in China and Japan. An old Chinese tradition was to plant a tree whenever a baby girl was born. The tree would mature alongside the child, and when she matured it would be carved for her dowry. The wood of the paulownia tree is very soft, similar to balsa wood, making it perfect for shoes, surfboards, carving, and musical instruments. To this day, they are still highly valued in China and Japan, where they are a threatened species and culturally symbolic, while they are viewed as a threatening nuisance in the United States.

Next time you’re out driving or walking around, pay attention to your surroundings. See that tree growing on a building over there? It’s probably a paulownia tree.