By Jordan Heller
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
EAST VILLAGE — A colossal, decades-old weeping willow tree slated for destruction by local condo owners could be saved thanks to public outcry.
DelEste IV condo board president James Jorio and 11 other owners at 613, 615 and 617 E. 11th St. voted 8 to 4 this fall to remove the tree, citing maintenance costs and safety concerns. But after getting bombarded with e-mails and phone calls — including from Councilwoman Rosie Mendez's office — Jorio says he plans to call for a new vote.
"I had no idea there'd be this community uproar," Jorio said Friday. "I voted for removal, but now that I know of the concern, I would vote differently."
Among the most vociferous opponents of the tree's removal are the teachers and staff at the East Village Community School (EVCS) and the Children's Workshop at 610 E. 12th St. — where kids have dubbed an outdoor space that sits in the shade of the willow the "Tree of Knowing" garden. Proponents there argue that the tree is a neighborhood fixture and offers school children an opportunity to learn about and commune with nature.
Mary Talbot, 46, a parent coordinator with EVCS, said the tree, believed to have been planted in the 1970s, is part of the school culture and curriculum.
"Through different classroom projects the children have created various sculptures, mosaics and poetry celebrating the tree and its role in their lives and in the neighborhood," she said, before adding that teachers, students and parents connected with the school are prepared for public demonstrations and vocal protests if the board moves ahead with removal.
Other proponents of saving the tree include some of the DelEste IV condo owners who voted against its removal, including Ben Epps, 61, who preceded Jorio as board president.
"This tree is not some item that a small group of people can arbitrarily remove," said Epps.
Jorio explained that after a spate of recent windstorms resulted in fatalities due to fallen tree branches, some of the condo residents were concerned for the safety of the school children.
If a branch fell and harmed one of the kids, he argued, "the school would come to us and say 'why didn't you do something about the tree beforehand?'"
Nonetheless, Jorio said he is bringing the issue back to the four-person condo board, who will vote on whether to allow all 12 condo owners to re-vote on the removal of the tree.
"If three people vote to have it stand, that'll be the vote and the tree will be removed," said Jorio, who added that he will vote in favor of preserving the tree.
Epps said the 12 owners currently share the maintenance costs equally, including $500 to $700 for biannual pruning and a one-time payment of $1,500 for support cables that were installed to stablize the tree.
