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Evansville tree board approves removal of trees for DoubleTree parking with arborist oversight and two-for-one replanting
Summary
On Sept. 5, 2024 the City of Evansville Tree Advisory Board approved removing four street trees in front of the DoubleTree hotel to add on-street parking, with conditions that the city arborist be consulted and that the city plant two trees for every one removed over the next few years.
At its Sept. 5 meeting, the City of Evansville Tree Advisory Board approved removal of several street trees on Sixth Street near the DoubleTree hotel to allow on-street parking, provided the city arborist reviews placement and a two-for-one replanting plan is implemented.
Lana Abel, deputy director of the Department of Metropolitan Development, told the board the area was redeveloped around 2016–2018 (DoubleTree hotel and the medical school) and that a traffic reconfiguration tied to the Walnut Street corridor project requires reassigning a small green strip used for angled parking in front of the hotel and Starbucks. "We're going to gain the 4 parking spaces," Abel said while reviewing the design and said installation would preserve an ADA clear path.
Board members asked for specifics on how many trees would be removed and where replacement trees might be planted. One member summed up the objections, saying, "I am against removing these trees for parking," citing downtown "concrete canyon" effects and loss of shade and walkability. Abel and other board members said they would try to preserve trees at the ends of the green strip and work with the contractor (Rivertown) on on-site coordination. Abel also described stormwater measures already in place near the med school side, including permeable pavers and underground storm units for capture.
A board member identified in the record as Mike moved to approve the removals "subject to working with the Walnut Street corridor and...in consultation with our arborist" and to plant two replacement trees for each tree removed over the next couple of years. The motion was seconded and adopted by voice vote.
The board asked staff to set up an on-site meeting with the contractor before the trees are removed and to report back in the following years on where replacement trees were planted.
The action is limited to the trees shown in the plan presented at the meeting; Abel said other trees on the opposite side of the street would not be affected.
What happens next: staff will coordinate arborist review and contractor scheduling, and follow-up planting locations and timelines will be reported to the board in subsequent meetings.
