WILMINGTON — Two years ago, when planning for the Publix in Ogden began, over 40 live oak trees were on the chopping block. Construction is nearly complete on the grocery store and, as unlikely as it seems, the trees will still be standing on the same spot opening day.
All except one.
The “Ogden Oak,” as it has come to be known, is a massive live oak, over 60 inches in diameter and at least 200 years old. Unlike the rest of the oaks at the Ogden Market Place development, it sits on North Carolina Department of Transportation property, and it’s in the way of necessary Market Street roadwork.
Usually, a tree like the Ogden Oak would simply be cut down. However, in late September, the NCDOT and the property’s developer team up to tackle a $80,000 project to move the tree.
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Michael Werner is a member of the Ogden Preservation Group — the organization has long hoped the Ogden Oak could be saved, along with the other trees on the lot.
“I’ve been an activist for a long time. I fought many losing battles,” Werner said. “They say that the only battles worth fighting are the losing ones, but, surprise of all surprises, we won this one.”
When the development was first proposed, the group was concerned about the traffic impact and the property’s numerous live oaks.
Initially, Werner was told by the developer that the trees were dangerous.
“I was told by the developer that trees were dangerous, that they would fall on people, kill them, fall on cars and that they were an insurance risk,” Werner said. “Now, these are high canopy, disease free, 40-inch, some 60-inch live oaks that have endured countless hurricanes and storms over the years.”
Werner tried to convince developers that the trees posed no risk, but he also tried to convince them the trees were an asset.
“Sense of place and beauty are important,” Werner said. “It’s going to increase the value of the property. I asked the developer whether he wanted to own property that looked like Lumina Station, which is very scenic, and has a lot of high-end business, or the asphalt wasteland of Kmart.”
After the developer gave the impression that Publix wanted the trees cut down. Werner said they started a letter-writing campaign, trying to combine “the carrot and the stick” in their message.
“At that point we had about 1,500 members (of the Ogden Preservation Group), and I encouraged them all to write letters. In my own letter, I said, “I have two visions of your opening day. In one vision, there’s a fair-like atmosphere. You’ve got kids playing in the shade of the trees and everyone’s having a good time. In the other vision, there’s hundreds of people protesting the clear cutting of our community’s heritage live oaks.”
Publix and the developer quickly conceded. Werner credits the efforts of both county officials and city officials for making sure the trees were preserved. While the county has little or no regulation on cutting down trees or has an arborist, Werner said, the city is much stricter. Werner said the city’s arborist Aaron Reese and city planner Jeff Walton were especially helpful. On the New Hanover County end, planning and zoning director Ben Andrea was helpful as well.
“In this case, I have to give kudos for the county, the city and department of transportation,” Werner said. “They professional and courageously protected the community’s interests.”
The NCDOT got involved because, despite Publix’s agreement to keep the property’s oak trees, the “Ogden Oak” was still slated to be removed as it was on the road right of way. It was a tricky financial and logistical problem, and Werner gives the department credit for “getting creative” to solve it.
“It’s an $80,000 project,” Werner said. “The NCDOT wanted to help, but they didn’t have a line item. So the NCDOT agreed to pay to move the utility lines above and below the tree. The developer agreed to move the tree.”
Actually moving the tree is a difficult procedure, but not an unprecedented one. Trees even larger than the Ogden Oak have been moved, using massive inflatable airbags to lift the tree while compressed air is used to free the root system from the dirt. According to Brian Rick, spokesman for the NCDOT, the state will handle traffic management during the tree move.
According to Werner, the procedure is less invasive than ‘spading’ – or physically digging the roots out – and gives the Ogden Oak, in his opinion, “the best possible chance of surviving.”
Werner said he’s thrilled the oaks will live on and not succumb to the “asphalt wasteland,” but he said the real takeaway is the importance – and effectiveness – of community action.
As Werner pointed out in a letter to members, “Just remember this project when people say we are powerless against big moneyed interests. We can make a difference in our communities. Just think of how different that corner would look like without saving the oaks. Just think how different Ogden would look like and how it reflects on Middle Sound Loop. Beauty and a sense of place matter. Community activism can work and you can make a difference.”
Send comments and tips to Benjamin Schachtman at ben@localvoicemedia.com, @pcdben on Twitter, and (910) 538-2001.
