Mellow Mushroom Live Oak Tree

[Duvaltopia]

I hear Mellow Mushroom wants to cut down the medium sized live oak shade tree on the corner of Ingleside and St. Johns Avenue because 'it will block their signage.' This important shade tree is along the public sidewalk. Now, I know the owner said he wanted to respect the neighborhood, so this can't possibly be true. Does anyone have any information?

[thelakelander]

Hmmm, I don't know if this is true or not but I do know this would not be an issue if they would have been allowed to do their original plan.  In the old plan, you would have ended up with public green space at that corner and outdoor seating.  At this point, they respected a portion of the neighborhood's wishes by demolishing the gas station and spending more money to build a structure right up on the sidewalk.

[JeffreyS]

Not just did they spend more to accommodate the their neighbors they also agreed to make less on their investment by reducing seats. Clearly they are willing to be a good neighbor.

That said I like that oak it should stay.

[mtraininjax]

More We Love Avondale furor???

[CityLife]

I hear Mellow Mushroom wants to cut down the medium sized live oak shade tree on the corner of Ingleside and St. Johns Avenue because 'it will block their signage.' This important shade tree is along the public sidewalk. Now, I know the owner said he wanted to respect the neighborhood, so this can't possibly be true. Does anyone have any information?

Here's the city's tree protection code if you want to research it.

http://library.municode.com/HTML/12174/level4/ZOSE_CH656ZOCO_PT12LATRPRRE_SPBTRPR.html#TOPTITLE

[ChriswUfGator]

If they'd been allowed to have their original design (which was much better than the suburban box WLA made them build) this would have been a non-issue.

[SunKing]

If they'd been allowed to have their original design (which was much better than the suburban box WLA made them build) this would have been a non-issue.

Wait, how is this a "suburban box?" 

[ChriswUfGator]

If they'd been allowed to have their original design (which was much better than the suburban box WLA made them build) this would have been a non-issue.

Wait, how is this a "suburban box?" 

Have you looked at it compared to the original adaptive reuse that WLA killed?

[Tacachale]

It's not "suburban", but it's definitely not as good as the original plan.

Also, do we even know if this is true or not?

[SunKing]

If they'd been allowed to have their original design (which was much better than the suburban box WLA made them build) this would have been a non-issue.

Wait, how is this a "suburban box?" 

Have you looked at it compared to the original adaptive reuse that WLA killed?

I look at it everyday and would have much preferred the original design.  But i dont think you can call a zero lot line building suburban, it matches the surrounding neighborhood...unless Avondale would be considered suburban.

[Duvaltopia]

The tree suffered a bit during the road construction, but it is alive and well and should be kept as part of the landscape. These oak trees are what define Avondale. If Valentino wants to keep things agreeable with his neighbors, he should be protecting this tree. I'm assuming he gets this and hope this rumor is not true. And no, I'm not a member of We Love Avondale.

[CityLife]

Just looked at aerials and it appears that the tree in question is in the city ROW. Its typically much harder to remove a tree in city ROW than on private property, but I'm not familiar enough with COJ's tree code (linked earlier), nor do I have the time to research it. I do believe that Live Oaks are a protected species and have to be replaced at an inch for inch caliper basis though, and by another Live Oak.

Translation: If the city allows MM to remove it from the ROW, MM will likely have to mitigate that loss with a like for like replacement.

[JeffreyS]

Even if it died it should be replaced.

[Stephen]

WLA is getting to be out of control.

[JeffreyS]

Thank You Stephen Dare.