A large tree that has stood in downtown Houston for decades was removed Thursday.
The big, old black oak at Grand Avenue and Oak Street was cut down piece by piece by city workers after concerns were raised about the potential danger it posed to the adjacent city hall building. Houston Mayor Don Tottingham said the idea of trimming it was discussed, but the city council ultimately made the decision to have the tree removed.
Tottingham – whose office is directly under where some of the tree’s larger branches were – said two smaller trees would likely be planted in its place.
“It’s a shame, because who knows how long its been there,” he said. “But I would have hated to have any or all of it come crashing into my office.”