& Hannah Savino, Contributing Writer ’26

“Don’t it always seem to go / That you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone / They paved paradise, put up a parking lot […].” Joni Mitchell’s lyrics in her hit song “Big Yellow Taxi” could not depict Indian Hills’ current situation any more accurately. Chances are that any student who has looked out of an eastern-facing window within the last few weeks has witnessed the falling of trees or the disappointing view of the highway. In the past, gym classes have been able to take walks through the wooded area, and classes have been allowed to take advantage of a beautiful day in the shady outdoor classroom. However, since the passage of the Agreement to Extinguish and Replace Release of Easements and Right of First Refusal and Grant of Easements, this peaceful scenery has been destroyed by modernization and has further contributed to the global issue of deforestation. Due to this increasingly prevalent phenomenon, numerous wildlife species are constantly losing their habitats. Until recently, this issue has seemed distant in the lives of many FLOW area citizens; it is something confined to English research papers or biology projects, but now Indian Hills itself is face to face with an unfortunate and barren future. However sad this may be for the students, it is infinitely worse for the wildlife in the area. Undoubtedly, many animals have lived in the ecosystem behind Indian Hills, and their homes have been taken away to house a different species, humans.

In the eyes of K. Hovanian, the contract purchaser, this land is exceptional. The undeveloped land—being 38.8 acres—is seen as a desirable opportunity for construction workers to come swooping in and make Oakland seem more affordable; the idea of preserving the environment is nowhere to be found. The original owner of the farm and equestrian center that once vacated this area—along with two other properties, RI-Arm farm and the Leone Property—Salvatore J. Fanale, has requested to keep access to the property, the RA-2AH zone allowing them to maintain access rights. This would force walls and fencing along the property line to be built in order to preserve the horse farm. In an agreement with Ingerman Development, which specializes in affordable housing construction, K. Hovanian envisions this land to build 200 units; 151 being townhouses and 40 being affordable units. The townhouses would have three bedrooms, a two-car garage and driveways, and approximately 2,500 square feet. In the affordable housing, there will be a total of eight one-bedroom apartments, 24 two-bedroom apartments, and 8 three-bedroom units in each three-story building. Likewise, a parking lot will be provided for the two buildings. A key aspect to keep these houses affordable is the idea that the townhouses would have to pay taxes, meanwhile, the affordable housing will partake in a process called a PILOT program. The Ingerman organization will pay a percentage of the rental income in lieu of taxes. This would be paid quarterly. The number of rooms in the low-cost housing will be reduced, making them more desirable to low-income citizens. In addition, to make this area more suitable for those deciding to live here, there will be a clubhouse that both the residents of the townhouse and affordable housing will have access to. 

Athletes are among the most affected by the clearing, second only to the animals and wildlife that have been evicted. In instances of heat, the trees have provided a surplus of shade on the warm track. Without this coverage, the entirety of the surface is hit by the sun. Behind the baseball field, there are no trees left. This is unfavorable for the new development because all it takes is one homerun to break a window in the new housing. The trees that were previously there also muffled the sounds of the hustle and bustle of the highway. Now, all one can hear is tires and horns honking on their way past our school. This is expected to lessen as the houses go up, but the new residents will most definitely meet a rude awakening when they can’t sleep due to the ongoing noise. Another issue future residents may encounter is the glaring lights from the football field, not to mention the excited and rowdy high school students rooting for their school’s team on the nights of home games. Some issues concerning traffic may also come to light with the new developments. With around 50 new cars in the neighborhood, getting to school might take a few minutes longer, not to mention the difficulty residents of the new housing area may experience as they attempt to leave or enter the development.

The excavation and removal of trees also cause the area to be more at risk for flooding and mudslides. Each tree that has been chopped and chipped down had a system of roots that both worked to absorb water from the land and held the dirt and ground together. With virtually no vegetation left on the property, the soil is loose and has no structure keeping it in place. As seen after a few rainy days, the property also begins to form large pools of water from the ground’s inability to absorb large amounts of water alone. Eventually, grass will be planted once the housing starts coming together and the trees will be replaced by small manageable shrubs that are most likely not native to the ecosystem. Nevertheless, the land will never be back to the status it was before its destruction. With Pond Brook River so close to the property, the new housing area may experience ongoing flooding issues with little to no solution other than moving or planting effective and native vegetation in the area.

This destruction of the environment is affecting all students and teachers of Indian Hills and is strumming up a great deal of conversation about the morals behind this development. Sophomore Avery Gall shares her opinion on this matter, stating, “I feel pretty saddened by it really. I never realized how many trees were really there until they started to cut them down. The amount of habitats lost and ecosystems destroyed solely due to building houses is quite devastating.” Sophomore Amanda Gluchanicz brings up a point about how this construction will change the view of students at Indian Hills, claiming, “I think now seeing all the construction takes away from the high school, and it makes the area look barren and lifeless.” Barren and lifeless sum up the new perspective that the grounds outside of this high school give to many students and teachers. Sophomore Kaitlyn Gilliland touches upon how student athletes will be affected by this destruction of trees. “I’m sure players of outdoor sports will probably miss the view,” she said. Players will be forced to watch more and more trees get cut down and houses put up. The loudness of this situation will further decrease the players’ ability to hear coaches’ instructions and advice as well as other teammates’ commands.  

This plan to construct new housing has brought many concerns for those who attend Indian Hills High School. From baseballs hitting windows to mudslides and the natural beauty of the forest being demolished, the destruction of these trees has saddened many of those who have watched this phenomenon.