UPDATE: The tree was removed by the City one day after this story was written.
Why's this tree dead?
Why's this tree dead?
A few years ago, the Mills50 Main Street District and the area's Commissioner, Patty Sheehan, split the cost of 8 trees as part of a new streetscape improvement within the Mills50 District.
The total cost of the improvement was $8,000, split between the two entities.
An agreement was put into place stating that the Mills50 District would maintain the trees.
One of the eight trees was planted in front of the Orange Studio, a live event rental space.
It was struck by a car.
Because it was a City of Orlando street tree, it fell under the City's insurance and was replaced.
The tree that replaced is now dead as well.
Unfortunately, according to City of Orlando Deputy Chief of Staff Heather Fagan, the "tree did not take." Why? Fagan explained that "it could be for any number of reasons including not enough water during a very hot and dry summer."
The splayed frond-topped totem of despair (being silly here) is going to be replaced by the City's Economic Development Department which includes the Main Street program.
The tree replacement job has not gone out to bid yet so the cost is unknown.