F Redevelopment

I'm pissed and there is not much I can do about it.  First of all, I am sick and tired of being pissed off in the name of money and progress.  My cortisol levels are probably off the charts and I am going to just say it, the SOB's that wanted the trees cut down are directly responsible for the stress induced fat around my belly. 
I live across the interstate from Valley West Mall.   I am smack dab in the middle of West Des Moines but by the grace of trees, I never felt like it.  The trees formed this amazing living wall that blocked the always glowing parking lot lights (there is another beef) and hid my nighttime eyes from YOUNKERS.  Looking out my front door I could not see anything but the interstate wall and trees.  I could leave my blinds open at night without mall glare.  Beautiful, green, lush (you can provide all the adjectives you like) gone.  Yep, my beautiful view has been chopped down with the permission of the DOT.
The developers think the area "will be fun to work with" according to the article in the West Des Moines Register.  They want to make the area more marketable and chopping down trees on the interstate side is apparently the way to do it.  The land holds a bank at one end and a little strip mall that appears to be mostly office type places in the middle.  There is a nice gym at the other end.  There are also two empty buildings that used to be TGIFridays and The Boom Boom Room.  You all know what TGIFridays was, but The Boom Boom Room was its own special kind of shit hole.  When the club closed at two, the patrons would gather in the parking lot and I could actually hear voices from across the interstate.  When I couldn't hear voices I could always feel the pounding bass that came from building and then cars.  An asset to the community that we were all sad to see close.
So Vista Real Estate and Shoppes at Valley West LLC own the land and plans will be developed based on the interests of new retailers.  In other words, they cut down the trees without a plan for the land.  All they have done is made it easier for drivers on I235 to take their eyes off the road to see where they can bank, eat or work out. 
I would imagine that the trees and other vegetation did a pretty good job of absorbing the rain water from the 10 acre parking lot.  All those deep roots probably helped clean out the oils and other run offs before the water hit the creek that runs along the interstate.  The trees were home, or at least resting spots for a hawk and an owl.  I know the trees worked hard to improve the air quality, absorbing some of that carbon that the cars put out.  I know the trees created a beautiful, natural sound barrier.  Now maybe there are plans to plant low growing shrubs.  Maybe next year my view will improve and maybe I am jumping the gun a little with the rotten thoughts I have for these two companies.  But I doubt it.
On an average stroll around this part of West Des Moines, I can count a dozen empty buildings in need of redevelopment.  There is no need to build new.  I think there should be some respect shown to Lady Bird Johnson and her highway beautification plan.  I think there should be some serious concern for the lookie loos getting off the interstate onto Valley West Drive.  And what new development can we possibly need at this point?  I honestly cannot think of a business that is missing from around here other than a Ponch and I will be pissed if one goes in there because I will probably have to boycott after this rant. 
There was no need to take down the trees.  Sons of bitches, anyway.