“Everybody†continues to obsess over the magnolia tree, the tree passed unnoticed by many until it was announced that it was on property intended for condominiums. The condominiums would front Pack Square Park and obscure the view of Asheville City Hall from some perspectives.
Asheville City Council voted to officially denounce the Buncombe County Commissioners’ sale of the land to Stewart Coleman for development. At that time, it was believed that the land was owned by the city and county as joint tenants. It has since been established that the county owned the property outright.
However, citizens are claiming that the deed was encumbered by a requirement that the property was to remain parkland in perpetuity. Such a statement exists, but I have not been able to learn specifically to which portion of the park this pertains, or how Coleman’s lawyers and appraisers managed to overlook such a thing if they did. The city and county discuss the matter in closed sessions.
Meanwhile, the property owner recently sent a letter to High Priest of Coven Oldenwilde Steve Rasmussen stating he will give 35 days’ notice for cutting the tree if the High Priest would please look after the safety of his wife, High Priestess Lady Passion (a.k.a. Dixie Deerman) and not leave her sleeping under the tree on Coleman’s property night after night.
This has upset the public, and City Councilman Brownie Newman has become quite popular for asking that the city use eminent domain to prevent building on the property. Citizens will soon hold training sessions on how to be effective human shields for the tree.
