[andrewkfromaz]

Palm trees are good for one thing: breaking up the height of a building to pedestrian scale so that you can stand next to a skyscraper and not feel like an ant. Additionally, palms are easier to maintain, durable in all weather, and use a moderate amount of water. They're cheap and they grow fast, and they can look nice, when used correctly. I think some palms belong downtown, despite the counter-arguments. I do think natural shade has a huge role to play in offering shade to pedestrians everywhere, downtown or in a suburban parking lot. I just feel that landscaping palettes should not be mixed. Keep historically accurate turf/big deciduous trees/perennials separate from decomposed granite/mesquite/cacti. There may be room for both, but not at the same place. Some kind of hard boundary is needed.