My wife and I are building a house in a Dallas neighborhood. Long story short, at the front of the property is a massive Red Oak tree (arborist guesses 80-90 years old). Circumference of nearly 20 feet. It's massive. We have torn down an old house and are building a new one, we just got our permit. The neighbors have been very in our business about keeping the tree - like way too much in our business. It has been our intent to keep the tree.

Over the weekend a quarter of the tree split at 2am, with damage to our neighbors yard and what would have been damage to our house / parking area once the house is complete. We have 3 young kids. After this incident, it was clear to us the tree isn't safe and we decided for immediate removal of the tree for our safety, the workers safety, and the safety of the neighborhood.

Just received a call that some of our neighbors are hysterical, crying, some protesting the arborist, and one of them has contacted the news / a PR firm. Any recommendations on how to handle? Thanks.

In.

Have you had an arborist out? Preservation Tree Services (now SavATree or something) is really good.

It is your tree. It is your property. Neighbors can't do squat. But if this is your "forever home"...might be worth a show of "good faith" to not have pissed of neighbors.

Move somewhere else. You clearly don't want to live near BSC neighbors like that.

Until your neighbors are willing to set up and fund an escrow account for you to cover the potential damage caused by the tree, they get NO say in what you do with your tree.

Quote:

---

After this incident, it was clear to us the tree isn't safe and we decided for immediate removal of the tree

---

You decided this? Or an arborist?

If you got a professional stamped option, then have it removed if you want.

That said - if you just kinda came that conclusion on your own….I mean I personally would be doing everything possible to save a tree like that. Of that size and stature. But if it's on your property, it's your call.

We hired an arborist the second we bought the property. They have been maintaining water and giving the tree nutrients. It was a main limb that snapped off - probably 40 feet long. The fracture went down close to the base. It would have total a car or easy killed a person had it fallen on them.

An arborist and our builder looked at the tree closely and it was both of their opinions from a safety perspective that the tree should come down. Major limbs hang over the street we live on, the side street, sidewalk and what will be our house.

It was an easy decision for me as my kids will be walking under these big limbs daily. Just having to deal with the backlash from neighbors is pretty annoying.

1. Cut down the tree.
2. Stack branches and trunk pieces in neighbors' yards so that they can enjoy the beloved tree.
3. ???
4. Profit

Letter should start and end with FO

You did your due diligence, legally went through the steps to cut the tree down. You have bent over backwards.

Ask for forgiveness better than permission.

No one in the neighborhood will come to your defense if you tried to keep the tree, someone gets hurt/killed with your full knowledge that the tree was unstable per the arborist and DID NOT cut it down.

Quote:

---

Thinking about writing a letter and dropping off in each neighbors mailbox telling our side of the story.

---

Include a certificate from somewhere that says a tree has been planted in their name.

Medaggie said:

---

No one in the neighborhood will come to your defense if you tried to keep the tree, someone gets hurt/killed with your full knowledge that the tree was unstable per the arborist and DID NOT cut it down.

---

Definitely agree with this.

I wouldn't do a big PR offensive, or even send a letter. If anyone asks, tell them about your process, focus on the safety perspective and leave it at that. Word will spread.

And I certainly wouldn't talk to a TV news crew. They aren't your friends.

I like the letter idea. Introduce yourself and the family, how excited you are to be in the hood, how much you hated losing that tree (part of the reason you picked that spot after all) but after lots of professional advice after the injury, only responsible thing is to remove.

That will placate the reasonable folks. As will time as the house is being built.

Offer up free firewood to soothe their nerves.

I would certainly plan to plant another tree, as large a caliper as you can afford.
Then have the tree cut into slabs and see if Agrams is interested in the lumber.

Tell me you moved to east Dallas without telling me

Name a windmill in WTx after them....Is that a thing? If not, why isnt that a thing?

Extend an Olive branch...lie to them...explain to them your great aunt Frieda was killed by a rotten tree falling on her. Guilt trip them. Make them apologize. Maybe even get some cookies out of it when you move into your new home.

I learned along time ago to listen when people Tell you who they are.
Are you sure you want to surround your family with folks like this?
I would be telling them to pound sand.

I'm inpressed by the size of the tree. Can you post a pic?

sorry - i'm a fan of large trees.



edit to avoid dick pics!

I think I could name 100 different things in a neighborhood/home that could be more of a danger to kids than "big tree limbs", but that's just me.

Sounds like you just lost some value to your lot, IMO.

TikkaShooter said:

---

I think I could name 100 different things in a neighborhood/home that could be more of a danger to kids than "big tree limbs", but that's just me.

Sounds like you just lost some value to your lot, IMO.

---

It's a huge liability to the homeowner, especially when an arborist has written a report showing it's a danger.