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Is This Legal? "Savvy Boutique" Breaks Out a Chainsaw <<<UPDATES>>>

NOB HILL--There is one less tree on Central Ave. this Monday morning. Why? Apparently because "Savvy Boutique at Nob Hill" didn't like it and chopped it down on Sunday. Savvy Boutique is about to open their store on the corner of Central and Wellesley NE, former site of "Objects of Desire."

The store windows are papered over announcing the store will be opening soon. However late Sunday morning two workers were cutting down a tree in front of the store with a chainsaw. The tree was growing in one of the "bulb-outs" that were added to the Central Ave streetscape by the city about ten years ago. The trees, as well as ornamental grasses and flowers that grow in the bulb-outs, are regularly maintained.

Sunday Lumberjacks
That anybody would be cutting down a street tree on a Sunday morning is suspicious in itself. In fact, it was my wife who came home after a walk with the news that someone was cutting down a city-owned tree. And as we all know, those trees belong to ALL of us--the people of Albuquerque. That a local business would chop one down was inconceivable to me.

Pictures
However, MaryAnn had pictures. One showed two men in front of the store. One man was holding two branches in his arms. The other, who appeared to be talking to him, had a red-handled chainsaw and was working on the stump. The stump was all that was left of the tree. Click on any of the pictures to enlarge.

The age of the tree was the same as the one kitty-corner across the street--in front of Gertrude Zachary. It was of a good size. By the way, the tree that was cut down was the only tree on the north side of Central Ave. in the whole block.

What Tree?
I had to go down the street and see this for myself. Well there was no tree in front of Savvy and no sign of one either: no chips, no stump, no nothing. I went around to the back of the store. There was nothing in the dumpsters, nor any other sign of a tree or its removal. Was there no evidence? Nothing but a memory? Nothing to even provoke a question?

I went back to the front of the store and scuffed the dirt away with my foot. There it was: The Stump! It had been cut off level with the ground. it was about a foot in diameter.

The Stump
That's all that is left of ten years of watering. A community made a decision to plant and support this tree. For ten years it withstood heat, cold, drought, and pedestrian abuse. However, it could not survive the chainsaw attack of this Sunday morning.

Savvy? Hardly.
Why was it done? I guess it was going to interfere with a sign for Savvy. Who knows? But I will tell you this: a Sunday morning chop job on a publicly owned tree does not speak well for any business.

***Update!!! Neal Copperman reports that Savvy's Facebook account has the following message: "We apologize to those offended by the cutting of the tree outside of Savvy. We were unaware that the tree was going to be cut down. We will gladly be replanting a new tree!"

***Update!!! By 2:00AM that message had disappeared from their Facebook page, but a couple of humorous comments referring to it remain.

***Update!!! Edith Grove reports a new message on the Savvy Facebook page:

I would have never guessed that cutting down a tree would affect so many people but now that I see it does, I would like to offer my sincere apology, I am truly sorry.
The intentions were to help the visibility of a new locally owned store. I am sure that doesn’t make sense to you and I’m pretty sure whatever I say, to help explain my actions, wouldn’t. So again, I apologize for not thinking in depth, before acting.
In leu of restitution and in an attempt to try and make peace, I would like to offer to plant a new tree where ever you would like me to.
I will be honest and state that any message that does not come through a private message will not be taken seriously and will be erased. I do realize that I made a mistake and I hope my offer is sufficient, and I can assure you that this will never happen again, on our behalf.
Sincerely,
Savvy Boutique

There are a lot of unanswered questions...like how could they have not known. Stay tuned. Meanwhile, a big Congratulations and Thank You are in order for the DCF community. What an outpouring of concern. Every tree still standing on a public right-of-way thanks you! As do the birds and bees, the shade seekers, and those who like a more human-friendly place to live and shop. Gracias.

16 members like this

Comment by once banned twice shy on January 22, 2013 at 4:07pm: Say, kids--I've got an idea...what if we made a GIANT CARDBOARD TREE and mounted it where the old tree once lived? We could make the canopy "solid" and on the inside write the words: "A real tree once lived here, but Savvy cut me down so you could see them."

Comment by Mi3ke on January 22, 2013 at 4:11pm: Watch KOB tonight, Tuesday, at 6pm for a live report from the stump with Adam Camp.

Cheers, Mi3ke

Comment by ramon t on January 22, 2013 at 4:11pm: Losing it? Ha...that is funny. Coming from you. I never 'lost' it. Did that artist ever offer a solution to clean up his 'art' on a building he did not own? Yeah, I didn't think so. Do I think Savvy is wrong for cutting down the tree. Absolutely. Do I think she should be strung up from another tree? Of course not. They made a mistake. They have offered to rectify it. Yet we have people going ape chit and posting (probably not the owners of the business) home address. Come on. Get a freaking grip.

Comment by ramon t on January 22, 2013 at 4:15pm: "Seems the mistake was getting caught.."

Yeah, cause you have never made a mistake. Many people sometimes simply don't know the laws or don't think there is one in any giver particular incident. I see it every day in the construction industry. They have offered to replace the tree. Why don't we see what they actually end up doing. If they don't stand by their statement. Let the burning feces commence.

Comment by ramon t on January 22, 2013 at 4:16pm: "ramon t, I know you're trying to be clever or ironic. Stop trying, it doesn't suit you. Their "mistake" is a felony crime. You're advocating vandalism and arson, more criminal activity. Or was your suggestion also a "mistake"?"

Lots of things to suit me. Doesn't stop me from pointing out idiocy. As OBTS pointed out, it was this very site that defended the 'rainbow' artists defacing private property all over this fine city.

Comment by ramon t on January 22, 2013 at 4:17pm: "Watch KOB tonight, Tuesday, at 6pm for a live report from the stump with Adam Camp."

I imagine the interview with the stump would be better thought out and more entertaining than some of these posts.

Comment by Chris on January 22, 2013 at 4:47pm: The name I put up was for the property owner and if they are a smart property owner they have a clause in the lease stating that any criminal activity will be cause to break the lease.

Comment by RunLikeADog on January 22, 2013 at 4:48pm: I would just like to put some perspective on this. On the same day as this post, there was the post that a 15 year old executed his entire family in the South Valley. It got one comment. This tree cutter post gets 68 comments. I'm not sure what that signifies other than our priorities are messed up.

Comment by once banned twice shy on January 22, 2013 at 5:10pm: ramon t. Dude. Seems like you're losing it right now. I think you are suffering from a severe case of cognitive dissonance.

Comment by once banned twice shy on January 22, 2013 at 5:14pm: RunLikeADog:Lord. Maybe you and happy girl should go buy a house by the sea together.

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