I want to thank all of you who have sent messages of support and kind words over the last 24 hours. I also want to thank those of you who put up with our construction in our intown neighborhoods. We try to be as delicate as possible but sometimes construction is not a delicate process.

 I wanted to clear the air on a few items after the removal of the tree on Talmadge Drive.

 Early this year, I purchased a home on a double lot on Talmadge Drive behind Athens Regional Medical Center. The intent of the project all along was to remove the existing home at that site, divide the lot into two lots and build two homes where one originally stood.  The home was removed, the lot was split in two, and we had the first home go under contract immediately at the corner of Belvoir Heights and Talmadge Drive. At the time we started construction of this first project, we began to get calls from neighbors and newspaper reporters asking about the fate of the large oak  on the remaining lot. At that time, I had no plans for that lot, was busy on other projects and [had] not even pulled a tape measure on the property to see if we could build a home there and keep the tree. I certainly did not want to tell people I was going to take down a tree and then find a way to keep it. I simply released a statement saying that we had no plans for the lot or the tree that would require its removal “AT THIS TIME.”

 Shortly thereafter, a wonderful couple from out-of-state contacted me about the lot, it went under contract, and we commenced the design process on their home. We hired a wonderful and well respected local architect. The process started with trying to save the tree and build around it. We quickly concluded that the tree would be too close to any foundation, and we could not guaranty the survival of the tree or the safety of the home or its occupants if it stayed. We then proceeded with design work with the intention of removing the tree.

 At that time, I joined the Normaltown neighborhood listserv for the sole purpose of letting the neighbors know what was going on with the project and with the tree. [With] the very first two emails that I received from that listserv, I was called names, and a gentlemen sent an email saying he had gone on the property with a tape measure to try and find out himself if the tree could be saved. I also saw an email from an individual stating she had offered me money for land to save a tree on another property, and that I had dismissed her offer (still waiting on that offer). We had instances of people coming on the property and putting artwork on the tree itself and defacing our signage. I was receiving a steady trickle of negative email both directly and through the listserv.

 I personally made the decision at that time not to inform the neighborhood of my intentions with the tree. I did not want my property defaced or vandalized, or anyone getting hurt while trespassing on the property. I did not want my subcontractors bothered while they were trying to do their jobs or my clients subjected to prolonged periods of negativity. Most of all, I was fearful of someone trying to come on the property or showing up the day the tree was coming down. I did not want anyone to get hurt. We still had a few people actually walk on the property to yell at the tree service while the tree was being cut [down].

 Please make no mistake about it. This is my project. I called the tree service and ordered the tree to come down. I have also not lied to anyone, I have followed all zoning laws, and I feel I have made the best decisions I possibly could throughout this process. I, hopefully, one day will get to a point in my career when I can donate a buildable lot as a park or save an old tree, even though it would cost me thousands of dollars to do so. Unfortunately, right now that would make it hard to pay my employees and feed my family.

 As far as the project goes, I feel very good about it. I am replacing an existing older home with two very efficient homes in its place. Even though the two newer homes are larger in size than the existing home, they will likely combined use about the same or less energy than the one existing home that was there. They are both more than 200 square feet smaller than the median new home size in the U.S. They will be long lasting, attract and hold good families in the community, sustain property values and be walking distance from downtown. We will replace tree canopy and, over time, the carbon footprint of this project will end up smaller than having left the original home in its place. Although it was very sad to lose a great tree, when I step back and look at the project as a whole, I am very proud of it and how it will serve the neighborhood moving forward.

 Most of all, I think it is time that people just start respecting each other and being civil. If you absolutely have to say something rude, please forward it to me directly. I think everyone is tired of seeing all the negativity come across these listservs.

 If you want to do something positive to respect the tree that came down, I have collected about 200 of its acorns  and have them in my office. I cannot possibly grow them all and plant them myself, although I plan to do that with at least a few of them.  Just let me know, and I can get some to you. Maybe in 100 years there can be several examples of this tree around the neighborhood, along with a few examples of architecture from the time when homes started to become sustainable. And maybe all of our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be announcing yard sales and neighborhood parties over their listservs.

Jared York

President, J.W. York Homes