Welcome aboard. A pic or two would really help. Including one of where the trunk meets the soil.

My wild guess is the tree was grown in rows in a nursery nice and protected from sun. Then at eight foot tall suddenly it was transplanted right into full sun and the bark was not ready. Sunscald or split or something is the catch phrase.

But yeah, if its a sugar maple they hate road salt also so hust a dramatic guess.

Best of luck.

Can anyone tell me what this is and what I can do about it?

==>>> not w/o a picture ....

most likely it is not 'worth' anything to save ... so why bother ...

you dont mention size ... such that the city would condemn it .. tor is talking a rather small transplant.. you tend to imply an big old tree ...

insufficient facts and lack of a pic makes speculating... irksome.. lol ..

ken