Press release

from City of Hendersonville


Main Street, Hendersonville: Some of the trees which the city says it must replace. (Photo by Bill Rhodes)

The City of Hendersonville and Historic Downtown Hendersonville are preparing to begin construction on Phase III of the Main Street Infrastructure and Streetscape Rehabilitation project. One of the first and most visible steps in this process is the removal of existing vegetation in preparation for the work to be completed over the course of the next 4-5 months.

The trees that call the 500 and 600 blocks of Main Street home are a vital component of the character and history of downtown. Unfortunately, like the two to three generations of trees that have come and gone on Main Street prior to those that we see along the north end of Main today, these trees have reached the end of their time on Main. We do not remove these existing trees lightly, but the reality is that they have survived under difficult conditions and those conditions have taken their toll on the trees.

Many are root bound and are in the process of literally strangling themselves. Rather than attempt to preserve trees in poor condition, we will be replacing the urban canopy throughout the 500 & 600 blocks. As we do so we will also add a significant number of new trees overall, increasing the total tree canopy in downtown. Importantly we are also using best practices in urban forestry to choose urban tolerant tree species and to design the soil medium and support infrastructure for the trees. This is all intended to provide the best possible environment and best possible future for the trees that are being added to the district over the course of Phase III.

So while in the short term we will see the removal of a great many well-loved denizens of Main Street they have, by adding so much to the district, brought about a commitment to and investment in the health and vitality of every street tree that will follow. The removal of existing vegetation will begin around December 31st, 2012 and continue into the New Year.

If you’d like to learn more about this process or have questions or comments regarding Phase III of the Main Street Infrastructure and Streetscape Rehabilitation project please contact us at info@downtownhendersonville.org .