Residents appeal to City Council to save Collier Avenue oaks

An email sent out this past Sunday is calling on residents to voice their concern to City Council over the fate of Asheville’s last stand of mature oak trees. Organizers are encouraging residents to attend today’s Council meeting at 5 p.m. to call for city officials to consider preserving a section of mature oak trees located at 11 Collier Avenue in Asheville’s South Slope area.

“These trees are historically, ecologically, and scenically significant, and is the last stand of mature trees downtown,” say Inge and Imke Durre, authors of the email and neighbors to the property in question. They add that the current owner of the property where the trees stand is willing to help save the trees if he can trade or sell the property.

The Asheville Citizen-Times recently covered this issue in an Aug. 31 Article (“Asheville’s last urban forest is in danger“). An online petition to save the trees, which a local arborist says are approximately 80 to 100 years old, has amassed over 1,000 signatures in the past three months.

The property in question is being considered as the site of the Collier Avenue apartment complex, a five-story residential building which would house 48 one- and two-bedroom housing units. The current property owner has indicated that he will allow developers to proceed with construction if an alternative can not be found.

Two members of City Council, councilmen Chris Pelly and Cecil Bothwell, have both expressed their support for efforts to save the oak stand.

Concerned residents are encouraged to wear a green shirt or top to today’s City Council meeting and to express their opinion as to why the trees should be saved. City Council meets on the second floor of City Hall at 5 p.m. every second and fourth Tuesday of the month.

For more information on the Collier Avenue oak tree stand and the call for support at this evening’s Council meeting, see the press release below. To sign the online petition to save Asheville’s last mature urban forest, visit change.org/p/city-of-ashevi-preserve-the-wooded-area-on-the-site-of-the-proposed-collier-avenue-apartments.

Press Release:

Ask City Council:
Preserve the Collier Avenue Woods
This Tuesday, September 8th, we will ask City Council to consider the fate of the stand of mature oak trees on the South Slope. These trees are historically, ecologically, and scenically significant, and is the last stand of mature trees downtown.

The owner of this urban forest has expressed support for saving the trees if he can trade or sell the property. Otherwise, the trees will be lost to a tall apartment building. Thus far, Councilmen Chris Pelly and Cecil Bothwell are in support of saving the woods.

If you can, please attend the City Council meeting this Tuesday, September 8th at 5PM on the second floor of the City Building. Wear a green(-ish) top, if you can, to indicate you are one of the Collier Avenue wood preservation supporters. Please invite others to join us.

Speaking is not essential, but welcome. If you do speak, state reasons why, in your opinion, these trees should be preserved. Making the effort to appear in front of Council members in person is what impresses them, more so than the over 1000 signatures the online Petition to the City at https://www.change.org/p/city-of-ashevi-preserve-the-wooded-area-on-the-site-of-the-proposed-collier-avenue-apartments has so far garnered.

Parking opportunities are on the Renaissance Hotel upper parking lot and in the College Avenue parking garage across from the new Courthouse, next to City Hall.

Recent AC-T articles: “Asheville’s last urban forest in danger” (8/31/15) and “South Slope’s urban forest is in danger” (9/3/15).

Inge and Imke Durre