City of Marietta. Recd 8/30/12..Option 3 would include tree "islands" of at least 75 square feet each on both sides of Church Street between Polk and Mill streets. Total cost is estimated at $84,000 to $126,000.
The first option, which would cost between $48,000 to $72,000, would plant about a dozen trees along Church from Mill to Polk streets with no loss of parking spaces.
The second option, which would cost between $151,000 and $226,000, differs from the first in that curb line along the west side of Church would be relocated to allow for a wider sidewalk and landscaping, narrowing Church Street travel lanes from about 15 feet to 10 feet wide, said Dan Conn, the city’s public works director.
Mayor Steve Tumlin, whose law office is located on Church Street, said this is his favorite option.
“The tree plan, I think, in 1 and 2 are similar,” Tumlin said. “What makes No. 2 more likable is the wider sidewalk. We like the pedestrians on the Square, so making it cooler, making it where you can walk on the Square I think is a big plus.”
The third option city staff presented to the Council during its series of committee meetings on Wednesday, which would cost between $84,000 and $126,000, would eliminate six parking spaces, but have about twice the number of trees planted than the first two options.
“That makes it more in line with how many trees we have on the Square,” Conn said.
The final option would install a center median on Church Street, planting the trees in the center of the road. That option would cost between $64,000 and $96,000.
Tumlin said he liked the idea of a center median planted with trees, but others, such as Councilman Jim King, opposed it, saying it would confuse tourists into thinking Church Street was a two-way road.
“Basically it comes down to how much impact you want from the trees,” Conn said. “If you want to have a more or less full tree canopy along that section, then you would have to go with option three. But that has some impact on parking, whereas option two does not impact parking, but it does give you trees and some landscape benefits.”
Tumlin said the next step is to schedule a meeting in the next few weeks to get opinions from businessowners.
Councilman Andy Morris said he’s already heard an objection from Tom Browning, chairman of the Downtown Marietta Development Authority, who told him he doesn’t want to have to worry about tree leaves falling on the roofs of his buildings.
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Don't line Church St or any of the surrounding streets or down medians with trees. Use plants, flowering plants, shrubbery, and even one specimen tree in a planting group, but don't line the incoming streets with trees that eventually kill the trees, destroy the sidewalks & make it hard to walk on them, and limbs that get in the way when the trees are smaller.
In conclusion, there are much more important things to work on around the Square than where trees should go on Church St. This is an example of why residents are so fed up with politicians. So FED UP!
The planters are nice, but I would love to have some beautiful trees out front for myself and my customers to enjoy.
www.updogfresh.com
The trees grow and they buckle pavement and sidewalks as they try to send out roots to find water. They also damage underground utilities and will grow into the storm and sanitary sewer lines in their search for water.
Why not clean up the building facades and have the property owner add awnings? Oh wait Goldfinger owns them all and he is pissed at the city for not allowing his skyscraper.
If you must plant something on the sidewalk, let it be plants or flowers, sparingly, NOT the entire length of the sidewalk, which would make it hard to even get on the sidewalk or in your car. When many around the Square complain about the lack of parking, it is the height of hypocracy to think about taking away any parking spaces.
Honest to goodness and you politicians wonder why the voters think you have no common sense or have lost your minds!