We are losing so much of what is old in Olde Towne Alexandria, it’s truly a shame. Even my grandchildren are starting to call the city New Town. Our history is being torn down, and everything new is coming up.
We worked really hard to save an 89-year-old building that is still in very good shape. It could have been renovated and made into something the city could use, but no, development won, we will lose an almost historical building for another new 124-room hotel. With the new construction coming, the developer plans to remove the four or five trees on the corner of Harvard and King Streets so the developer can widen Harvard. My neighbor planted one of the trees, the one closest to the alley. We believe it’s a sycamore and it has been there now for more than 10 years. This tree is established, it’s beautiful as are all the trees lining Harvard Street.
We have asked the city arborist to save this tree, he claims he cannot because there are wires from the pole next to the tree that are staked into the mulch around the tree. We checked, they are just stakes to help stabilize the pole. The pole will have to be moved to put in underground wires and the trees will have to be destroyed, or moved.
We have proposed the one tree be uprooted and moved to the open space in the alley near the swimming pole. We have spoken with Dominion Power, they want to preserve the tree also. They have given us a work order number and they will be out on July 22 to evaluate the work that needs to be done, including moving the tree. We need the city, the arborist to coordinate a move for this tree. Why does everything have to be destroyed? We are Olde Towne Alexandria, we have a lot of history, we need to preserve what we can.
Bea Porter
Alexandria