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Council to ignore commission’s recommendation on Virginia Ave. tree
HAMILTON — A famous tree once grew in Highland Park, and despite liability concerns, an upstart will likely take its place.
Residents of the West Side neighborhood were pleased by council’s unanimous decision Wednesday night, Feb. 11, to support their desire to plant a tree on Virginia Avenue, or rather - in - the small one-way residential street.
Council agreed to consider a resolution that would override the Hamilton Traffic Commission’s recommendation to pave over the spot where a 350-year-old oak tree once stood. The tree was felled in the September 2008 high-wind storm that knocked out power across the region for several days.
Being in the right-of-way, the tree posed a serious liability problem for the city. But residents like Denny Walsh, who has lived by the tree for over 30 years, said such concerns are exagerated because the tree never caused any traffic problems.
A former resident has offered to pay for the replacement tree. Residents said they are leaning toward a blue spruce.
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment | Categories: City Council

Comments
By Amy and Jason Isaacs
February 12, 2009 11:03 AM | Link to this
My family and I live on Virginia Ave and we are so excited to have that the “tree in the road” will be replace and able to let my son see it grow thur out his life time and his kids life time. I am glad city council over turn the traffic commission ruling..thank you from the Isaacs FamilyBy Jim and Eileen Mignerey
February 12, 2009 12:26 PM | Link to this
We had driven or walked by that wonderful tree several times a day for over thirty years. It’s felling was truly a sad day for us and for the neighborhood. Nothing could make us happier than knowing that a new symbol of our strong neighborhood will soon be growing and giving pleasure to our grandchildren and great grandchildren. Thankfully sense and hope prevailed over pavement.By Martin P. Johnson
February 12, 2009 1:21 PM | Link to this
Thank you to the council, this is a great result. It was amazing to see the hundreds of people who came to look at the tree and to hear the stories about how that tree has been part of people’s lives for generations. This is all due to the dedication and hard work of the neighborhood leaders who worked hard on this—-it is a good day for government by the people (Happy Birthday Abe!).By FedUp
July 28, 2009 4:15 PM | Link to this
Way to go DDN. This is not a West Side neighborhood.