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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 23, 2013 at 12:05pm: Athena:

Well, stump removal and planting a new tree won't be inexpensive. Perhaps that's fine enough (and a more constructive one at that)?

Comment by Clifton Chadwick on January 23, 2013 at 4:29pm: Well, a tree grows on Central. About as tall, not a quarter of the girth. And it won't obstruct "visibility" for several months.

Comment by Shannon Murphy on January 23, 2013 at 5:02pm: I don't think Happy Girl really understands the concept of first world problems. A better example? "There's a big tree blocking the sign of my new boutique."

Comment by Phil_0 on January 23, 2013 at 8:06pm: What gets me is that based on the pictures circulating on Facebook the owner clearly planted this one himself...he still doesn't understand that this space is city landscaping. It wasn't his place to cut down the tree and it's not his place to (improperly) plant a cheap replacement from Home Depot. It's also worth mentioning that the stump he promised to remove is still there...a lame effort that almost makes things worse.

Comment by hettie on January 23, 2013 at 8:18pm: I'm assuming no public entity was in any way involved with the planting of the new tree and I hope someone from the city responds to the situation soon. This new tree is a Mountain Ash, which isn't a tree that will survive very well in the conditions it will have along Central Avenue, particularly with a south facing wall at its back and alkaline soil at its feet. It's also not appropriate in terms of its branching habit for a sidewalk/street area without attentive pruning. It really seems like the owner just said "Put in a tree! Any tree!"

Comment by Chris on January 23, 2013 at 8:45pm: I'm betting that one of his friends had it left over from a job up north. it is a Cardinal Royal Mountain Ash and will produce an abundance of red fruit in late summer and early fall. It prefers hardiness zone 2B.

Comment by Krista on January 24, 2013 at 7:50am: They didn't remove the stump? My understanding was that stump removal kinda took place of a fine. Also, how is the new sapling supposed to survive competing with the root system of the old tree and during the freezes we experience in the winter? I would have been fine waiting until the Spring with just a promise that it would happen. It's time for the city to get really involved in this and possibly supervise any further happenings.

Comment by shotsie on January 24, 2013 at 8:40am: The city needs to remove the stump, plant a proper tree and then send the bill to the owner of the property. I'm sure the owner would be far more effective than the city in getting her tenant's attitude re-adjusted... (tossing in some cheap Home Depot tree - punk!)

Comment by ramon t on January 24, 2013 at 9:47am: Home Depot sells trees this time of year?

Anyway...what a freaking dummy. I agree with Shotsie. The city should take a care of it. Send the bill and if the bill is not paid apply a tax lien.

Comment by Phil_0 on January 24, 2013 at 10:22am: Some guys from the city were out there this morning and appeared to be contemplating stump removal...guess we'll see what they do with the other tree.

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