LJWorld.com

Tim Nauman said he isn't a tree-hugger. But he was still sorry to see the 75-foot-tall elm tree near Eighth and Rhode Island streets cut down piece by piece Tuesday morning.

"It's hard," the Lawrence resident said. "For me, living over here, it's symbolic that they're tearing it down and there's going to be another building here."

Officials in the Lawrence/Douglas County Planning Office said Tuesday no plans have been filed for development for the south half of the block between Seventh and Eighth streets and between New Hampshire and Rhode Island streets, which now has Borders Books Music & Cafe on the north end.

According to county documents, two companies -- 8th & New Hampshire LLC and Harris Family Properties -- recently purchased the property from Winter Inc.

Bo Harris, the CEO of Harris Construction, who is involved with the property companies, didn't return phone calls Tuesday from the Journal-World. But sources said a multiuse building, which could include both retail and office space and apartments, was planned for the site.

Workers with Highplains Tree Service in Eudora started destroying the tree around 8 a.m. Tuesday. By Tuesday evening, the branches were gone, leaving only a tall stump.

The tree had become an icon for some who wanted to stop corporate takeover of downtown and preserve open spaces. In July 2001, about 75 people gathered at the elm to show support for the tree after the lot was put on the market.

The 75-foot-tall elm tree near Eighth and Rhode Island streets, said to be suffering from Dutch elm disease, loses its branches. Lorenzo Safford, an employee of Highplains Tree Service in Eudora, destroyed the tree Tuesday. The tree was considered a safety hazard.

They also protested an entry road to Borders that partially covers the tree's root system. Spray-painted messages such as "Save the Tree" and "Borders Killed the Tree" are still scrawled on the pavement near the tree.

Late Tuesday night more than a dozen protesters returned to what was left of the tree. They had a candlelight vigil, and a woman climbed to the top of the tree's remains and vowed to stay there until getting a promise that the area would not be turned into a parking lot.

Joy Harris, one of those who watched from ground level, said the tree site should be turned into a small park with benches and flower beds.

"I think we need a place to pray for peace more than we need a paved parking lot," Harris said.

City officials in August 2001 ordered the tree destroyed because they suspected it had Dutch elm disease. The next month, tests by the Douglas County Extension Office showed it didn't have the disease.

Fred DeVictor, director of parks and recreation for Lawrence, said the city had no role in Tuesday's tree removal. Bruce Chladny, horticulture agent with the Extension office, didn't return phone calls seeking comment about the tree's health.

¢ Saved elm theme of mural (4-23-02) ¢ 75-year-old elm saved from being cut down (9-19-01)

The cherry-picker and chainsaws drew a few curious onlookers Tuesday. The sights and sounds also drew Ardys Ramberg, a Lawrence artist who stopped by to pay her respects.

"If you believe in the spirit of living things, it seemed to be reaching out for glory to all the world," Ramberg said.