A short video clip showing the trunk of the tree up and into the branches.
Short Video of the Big Tree
Format Video
Articles from June 2016
Pictures of The Big Old 2St Tree
Format Gallery
Pictures of The Big Old 2St Tree
Print Your Own SaveOld2StTree.org Window Poster
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for www.SaveOld2StTree.org
Here is a link below where you can download the PDF File and then print it.
SaveOld2StTree.org Window Poster
and share with your friends and neighbors.
Thank You,
Signed,
The Big Old 2 St Tree
Tree Damage and Safety Impact Caused by Proposed Development
The Images below reflect the before and have view of the trimming of the tree that the developer will be doing to build the 3 story small house. This post shows side-views of before and after the developer cuts tree at the property line.
The Results = Half the Tree Gone
We will have to cut the balance of the tree due to an unbalance in the structure of the tree.
Why the Tree is at Risk
Our 80-plus year old tree is in danger from development plans on an adjacent lot that is just too small for building or living, 14ft wide x 20ft deep. The design calls for a 3 story trinity house which would force cutting almost half the branches. If the shock doesn’t kill the tree, it would still be unbalanced, posing the danger of falling toward our house or neighbor’s properties,
The plan is coming before the Philadelphia Zoning Board soon. Hopefully, they will see that the lot is too small for the suggested plan. However, if the Philadelphia Zoning Board releases the lot’s owner from the open space requirements, our tree will be destroyed.
Here is a summary of our discussion with the lot’s owner/developer so far:
- In our very first encounter (Early 2015) before he purchased the lot, we told him the lot would not be worth it. There was no way the local area was going to permit a curb cut for a garage, because they just turned down similar requests to larger houses down the street.
- The next encounter (Saturday 5/16/2015): The gentleman approached saying that he bought the lot property next to our house and said he was going to build upon it. I told him we would fight any zoning changes for the property use. Here is one of his comments as it related to the Old Tree:
You are going to have to get the tree off my property side when I build my work shed.
- That’s when we asked our tree company to trim up the tree as much as possible to get room for the developer. Our Arborist said that if they take away that big branch, we will have to take away the entire tree for safety.
- We heard nothing for a year, until Friday night (6/3/2016), when the developer posted a notice for a zoning meeting on Tuesday 6/7/2016. This left us one weeknight to circulate a petition among the neighbors. In less than 2 hours we got 47 signatures Against the Zoning Relief!
- At the Pennsport Civic Association Zoning meeting (Tuesday, 6/7/2016), the Developer said:
If the tree is on my side, I can trim that, correct?
- After the 6/7 meeting, we figured the next meeting would be on August 3, 2016 with the Philadelphia Zoning Board in downtown Philly. However, we got another late Friday night (6/17/2016) notice for a meeting on Tuesday 6/21/2016. A bunch of neighbors were complaining about the late notice, and how only a few people could make the meeting.
- At the next Pennsport Civic Association Zoning meeting on Tuesday 6/21/2016, I mentioned that we had the arborist clean up the tree as far above his lot as possible. The Developer replied:
Did you get a quote for cutting down the tree?
We don’t want our tree to be cut down! It is one of the oldest, tallest trees remaining in our neighborhood of South Philly. The Big Tree helps
- Our Neighbors, by cleaning the atmosphere and providing shade for people and animals (see our post: OLD 2ST TREE BENEFIT CALCULATOR )
Possum visits the Old Tree May 10, 2016 
Big Dog and Boy playing Under the Old Tree - Families, as there are so few Big Trees for the kids to see every day
- Wildlife, as this is a great place for birds and even hawks to rest as they migrate, plus small mammals like to visit every once in awhile. (see our category of posts BIG TREES AND ANIMALS )
- The Environment: (see our post: OLD 2ST TREE BENEFIT CALCULATOR )
- CO2
- Storm water
- Energy
- Pollution
Help us save this tree by signing our petition, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates.
Thank you for your time and support.
Save Old 2St Tree.org with our Change.org Petition
This petition will be in addition to hand petitions we are circulating with the immediate neighbors, local neighborhoods and others in Philadelphia.
Click on the Image Below to Read and Sign the Petition
Thank You
Signed the Big Old 2 St Tree
Please don’t forget to sign and share our petition to save small open spaces in new developments in Philadelphia.
https://www.change.org/p/councilman-mark-squilla-save-old-2-st-tree
Friendly Neighborhood Possum Visits the Big Old Tree
We got a visitor on May 10, 2016. I guess the Big Tree looked welcoming to the local neighborhood possum.
Bubbles and Heart Watching Birds
4 Month old sister kittens, Bubbles and Heart, watching the birds in the Big Old 2St Tree. They are rescues from a neighbor in Queens Village. They love sitting in the stairs and looking out the window at the birds in the tree.
Sounds from the Tree
Format Video
capturing life and Sounds under the Big Tree.
Listening to the wind rustling the leaves and the local birds chirping away.
A Big Old Dog and A Big Old Tree
Cookie our 135 lb Great Pyrenees Rescue dog Loves her Big Tree.
Ever since we adopted Cookie 5 years ago, she has loved the Big Tree. Mom and her have finally divided up their shares of the tree floor. I truly think she will miss the tree, if we lose it.
She loves the natural cooling a big shade tree provides and not to mention the dirt.
To learn more about adopting Great Pry’s please check out
National Great Pyrenees Rescue (www.nationalpyr.org)
Below is Cookie caught in the action burying a bone in Mom’s flower bed around the tree. This was the start of the great battle. The photos above are of the agreed to truce.