Building News, March 2007

Last month while excavating, the contractor discovered an unknown underground retaining wall near the river birch tree adjacent to the cloister walkway that connects the Church and the Parish House. This is the small tree, not the venerable oak.

Initially the recommendation was to remove the tree along with the old wall that was in the way of the construction. Because of the parish's desire to keep trees when possible, we asked the engineers to see what could be done. After extended study (and delay), it became apparent that there was no way to avoid removing the river birch. Any attempt to save it would cost more than $8,000, would further delay the project, might damage the nearby brickwork, and would almost certainly not succeed anyway.

© 2006, Saint Philip's Episcopal Church
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 218, Durham, NC 27702
Telephone 919-682-5708, Fax 919-683-1857

Webmasters: Jack Mitchell, David Smith, Gordon Mantler