Construction puts downtown tree on chopping block
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In the weeks surrounding Christmas, however, it becomes something special as it is transformed into the city’s unofficial symbol of the season. McMinnville Electric System employees have decorated the tree for several years using a bucket truck and crowds of people enjoy its presence during holiday celebrations held downtown.
But as construction on Main Street progresses and the possibility that its root systems could be disturbed with utility or other types of construction work, the fate of the tree is hanging in the balance.
While the possibility of taking it down was openly discussed at a public meeting more than a year ago and Mayor Royce Davenport said it was always “assumed” the tree would come down as part of downtown revitalization, no one has come forward in protest until now.
Medora Willmore said she believes the tree, which all sides admit is healthy, should stay. She said she learned about its possible fate about a month ago and was “stunned” the tree may be on the chopping block.
“I hate to see the tree come down because it’s such a beautiful tree. It’s been the one spot of natural beauty in downtown for a long time and I just hate to see that tree come down.
“From a personal standpoint, I gauge my children’s development with the development of that tree because they grew up with it. Other people won’t have that same connection with it that I do, but I guess you could say that for its pure natural beauty, it needs to be preserved.”
City officials said they are considering the tree and a number of related issues after being approached by citizens.
Main Street McMinnville director Chris Wilson said while he has a “neutral” position on the tree, there are some considerations. He said when the tree was planted – many say the tree is at least 20 years old – it was a small, manageable tree.
Through the years, it has grown quite large and has become troublesome to decorate for Christmas. Additionally, he said officials are working hard to save the estimated 100-year-old maple tree located next to the evergreen. That will be difficult enough, he said, adding that the canopy of the tree is so wide that it presents a problem to try to work around since the Court Square area is due for a major overhaul.
Urban forester Nick Kuhn said the tree is healthy and that he is also trying to stay neutral.
“As it is, there’s nothing wrong with it other than some people don’t like it,” he said. “I’m not picking sides unless they force me to.”
Wilson said there are a number of options on the table, but said at this time, the plan is to remove it. The idea the tree would be removed was confirmed as the original plan by both Davenport and Kuhn.
Wilson said some current ideas are to move the tree to a different location downtown or remove the tree and put another tree in that space. Kuhn said it would be possible to relocate the spruce tree.
“That’s time and money, but it’s possible,” he said.
Davenport said the issue is one that is likely to be discussed more. He did not say when a final decision would be made but said officials would likely know more when they get to that point in construction and see how it fits with construction plans or the overall appearance of the project.
“It will probably be a combination of the actual construction work and what the design people think will work. If the design people say yes, we can keep it, but if for some reason they have to tear the roots out or damage the tree in the construction then it will have to come out anyway. But the other side of that is nothing may happen, design may say to keep it, and then it will be there.”
Willmore is advocating the tree stay.
“I’m not a political activist and I have never been that kind of person and I don’t want to make waves, but to me, that tree is too pretty to come down unless it absolutely, unequivocally, has to come down,” she said. “That’s the only reason I’ve pursued this.”