Local Family Preserves Historic Oak Tree
Creative thinking saved a 250 year old oak tree from destruction
How do we maintain the character and spirit of our Urban Forest neighborhood, when developers are clear-cutting land to build large new houses? In the process, much of the tree canopy is destroyed impacting flora and fauna here in Franklin Park. It feels as if there is nothing anyone can do to stop this trend!
So the actions taken by two of our neighbors seem particularly notable. Kristin and Josh Weed moved into Franklin Park in the summer of 2020. Next door to them was a charming old home, reminiscent of the bucolic Adirondack cottages often seen in Upstate New York. Jean Laub and her family moved there during the 1960s, and were only the second owners of the house. It sat on five lots of land – a picturesque cottage in the woods.
Mrs. Laub’s cottage on Rockingham Street in Franklin Park
Later, Mrs. Laub sold off two lots so that a house could be built next door – the one that the Weeds moved into years later. On the property line between the Laub’s and the Weed’s stood a magisterial oak tree, close to 250 years old. Both homeowners valued and cared for this tree.
When it was clear that the Laub family was preparing to sell their property in 2021, Kristin and Josh called Fairfax County to see how to protect this tree – but the County was of no help. The cottage and its three 50’x 200’ lots were sold in early 2021 in an off-market wholesale transaction to a local developer, Brush Arbor, who had constructed several homes in Franklin Park.
To make the purchase profitable, the contractor wanted to build two houses on the three purchased lots – one large home on two lots and one narrow “bullet” home on the remaining lot. The Weed family was concerned that building so close to the old oak would endanger or possibly kill it.
Brush Arbor’s new construction site
Josh and Kristin approached Brush Arbor about the possibility of buying the lot that was adjacent to their home, motivated by their concern for the oak tree, and for having another house built so close to their existing home and property line. Their purchase of the lot would allow Brush Arbor to build one large home, preserve the 250-year-old oak, and retain some neighborhood green space. A win/win situation all around! The developer was receptive, and a deal was reached. In the end, Jonathon at Brush Arbor was fair and good to work with.
To find a successful outcome, Kristin explained, “It is important to be pro-active with a developer – and discuss a land purchase like this before the planning and building processes have started. And we were lucky that the Brush Arbor people were so communicative and receptive to what we wanted to do. Perhaps they realized that the prospective buyers of a large house in this neighborhood wouldn’t want a ‘bullet house’ on their doorstep, either.
Saving that oak tree, and having a wooded space between us and this new house is a huge benefit for us -- and for the neighborhood.” Kirstin added, with a laugh, “Now all we have to do is get rid of all the invasive plants and vines – this land has been left to itself for quite a long time, so we have our work cut out for us!”