Despite the efforts of local preservationists, the giant trees of Columbia?s historic Woodlawn Manor are being cut down, an action allowed by law. “Two hundred years of survival through Colonial times, droughts, hurricanes, through the Civil War, only to fall at the hands of greedy development,” said Mary Catherine Cochran, president of Preservation Howard County, a local nonprofit that advocates for historic sites.
So far, three have been destroyed, and others have been marked ? even before the Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning approved plans by Ron Brasher, of Brasher Designs in Columbia, for a 74,000-square-foot office building on the property.
Brasher did not return repeated phone calls.
“That?s property rights trumping history,” said J. William Miller, a former caretaker at the manor and member of a task force that aims to save the Woodlawn Slave Quarters ruins on neighboring property that is leased by the Columbia Association.
But Brasher has the legal right to bring down the trees, accordingto the planning and zoning department.
In his development plan, Brasher listed 22 of the largest trees that will be cut down, mostly white oaks and tulip poplars, ranging from 2 1/2 to 6 feet around and in good condition. Brasher told the department that the mature trees ? dating back 150 to 250 years ? could be a danger if they fell.
The demolition began less than a week before a public hearing for a county bill that further threatens the historic and natural setting of the Woodlawn Manor.
Brasher wants to include only 10 feet between the proposed office building?s parking lot and the open space that will remain after construction. A 30-foot buffer is currently required.
“I need to understand why they need this change, but at this point I can not imagine supporting it,” said Council Member Ken Ulman, D-District 4, who visited the manor when he heard the trees were being cut down.
If you go
» Two meetings will be held for a bill that further threatens the historic and environmental landscape at Woodlawn Manor. A public meeting will be held Monday and the council will vote July 3. Both meetings will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building on Court House Drive in Ellicott City.
