I have one in my yard from previous owners, maybe this is the kick I need to cut it down. Maybe replace it with a native mulberry or pawpaw. Still have a few Trees of Heaven that were covered in spotted lantern flies the last two summers (2021 moreso). Those jerks destroyed my first grape harvest.
Totally different trees. Callery pears are used because it is a 'fastigiate' tree. Is narrow and tall, but not much tall. Perfect for sidewalks. And is a tree for four seasons with splendid flowering and fall color.
Many fastigiate trees split in this way all the time because the branching happens in very acute angles and this creates a weak point.
Asimina and mulberry aren't good for sidewalks. Asimina is too short, parse and wide and spreads from the root. Mulberry is a tall tree, too big and too wide. Both made the soil slippery and a mess by fruits and leaves.
A possible replacement could be young american hornbeam that can be pruned narrow for a long time before it opens wide. there is not a lot of candidates for a narrow sidewalk. Landscapers deal with this problems and try to fix it all the time.
Be careful with mulberries, I had one in my last place (not sure if it was native), and it dropped 10lbs+ of incredibly soft berries, so effectively black dye into my back yard daily for several months a year
There are many mulberry varieties spanning red, black, and white.
The white - look for Shahtoot - has long and slim fruit, with a much more delicate flavour. Can recommend.
Birds left ours alone for a decade, but once they discovered the fruit, they live in there from November through December (AU) relentlessly picking off the ripening ends of each fruit.
A bigger concern with mulberry trees may be their allergenic properties.
I'm fuzzy on mulberry distribution and don't feel like hunting the info down, but different species are native, introduced, or invasive in different regions. If you're going for native, you'd want to look into what belongs in your area.
Both, white and black mulberries are Asian trees, so be aware that you are replacing a Chinese pear by two Asian species of mulberry. The red mulberry is the one from US. The Texas mulberry is also from US but not so common in the market (probably).
White has a cultivar named Morus alba 'Fruitless' that is often used in cities. You can ask for it if you want a tree that will not stain the pavement.
The normal tree with fruits is a birds magneto but is a medium-big tree. Use it if you can provide the space necessary.
I have one across the street. Slightly less great when the birds eat the berries and your deck, house, sidewalk, and cars are covered in splotches of purple dye all the time.
A post yesterday suggested "reusing" the Callery rootstock by grafting something native/tasty/otherwise better onto it. Might be a fun option if if it's not too big already.
The bugs are not at fault here. The people who created the environment for them to thrive are.
Edit After Downvote: I get it - They were a major nuisance to you. Lanternflys weren't a one time thing. This has happened before - remember stink bugs? This has happened many times and it is going to get worse. Please don't shoot the messenger.
Stink bugs, gypsy moths, Japanese beetles... I get it. The wave of SLF hit Central PA right as my first grape vines were maturing.
But Tree of Heaven is also an invasive species, native to China like the SLF; it's their favorite host plant. The SLF invasion can be very "spotty". If I eliminate the stand of Tree of Heaven from my yard, the SLF will probably go elsewhere. I don't use pesticides or herbicides of any sort... just some copper fungicide for my fruit trees.
