Construction work on a new Kroger-anchored development along the Monon Trail at 86th Street is drawing the ire of Nora neighborhood
leaders. They're frustrated by the removal of trees and bushes along the trail by the project's developer, locally based Sandor.
Kroger and Sandor have promised to clean-up and beautify the trail frontage as part of its $12-million project to build a
new grocery store and gas station. But Pete Fisher, an attorney and board member of the Nora-Northside Community Council,
described the work so far as "destruction" of the green space. "We need to take action now to regain control over the maintenance
of our trail," he wrote in an e-mail. "It is our trail. Not Kroger's. It is not a frontage for Kroger marketing." Fisher provided
two photos below to illustrate the change.
UPDATE: Reader tced provides a photo with more perspective.
UPDATE: Reader tced provides a photo with more perspective.
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First, the project is not complete. Wait for the completion of the project before making an assessment.
Second, this is not exactly a pristine wilderness. Within 100 feet is the rear of the adjacent shopping center. It isn't exactly a pretty sight. And 86th is very nearby with thousands of cars driving by.
Have you ever been near this place? I have ridden by here many times. Directly east of this is the rear of a number of businesses. Not pretty. I am not criticizing those businesses but this is not exactly a wilderness.
The trees are gone. It's not like you can replant 50/100 year old trees.
Ask a nurseryman the retail value of a 100 year old tree and it would
wipe out Kroger's budget pretty quickly. I stopped using the Monon
when they built the hideous housing development at 65th and the Monon.
There should be financial repercussions from this. And please. . .don't
add insult to injury by planting Bradford Pear trees to replace what was there.
KEVIN: The opposition quoted in the post was not to the Kroger but to excessive removal of trees and bushes. Your point is irrelevant.
Too often they let the developments surge forward without proper Landscape and more importantly Drainage issues addressed.
If they allow them to cut the trees, they need to ensure that a nice treescape is added along the Monon. A long row of Evergreens is ideal for the Monon and as a backdrop for the building. Doesn't have to be one or the other and a win-win can easily be achieved.
How about all those electrical lines I see in the photo? Have those lines been there for years? If so, would not the IPALCO folks not have kept the so-called pristine growth from overtaking the electrical lines?
It would seem that everyone should simmer down. Apparently, a corporate decision was made, and a poor one at that, but what to do about it now. Perhaps a neighborhood committee should approach the Kroger people about a plan to correct the problem.
While the points are correct about not immediately being able to right the wrong, I would tend to agree that this hardly seemed like old growth forest. Surely a replacement plan could be reached and agreed upon by the interested parties, don't you think?
caliboy's right: what was removed was trash trees, most likely non-native and invasive species such as honeysuckle, mulberry, tree-of-heaven and the like. IndyParks periodically does the same thing in the small space between the trail and Westfield Blvd from the river up to 75th.
As I recall, there were a number of commitments about re-landscaping and buffering along the trail in the zoning case. How about if someone who's up in arms actually researches the matter before claiming that Kroger cut down old-growth forest?
So, how about if cooler heads prevail, and everybody sits down and works out the issues? Heaven forbid a positive dialog comes from this ...
The point is that a very tall, green canopy over the Monon Trail has been destroyed for commercial purposes (visibility/marketing) and the public has to suffer for it. I would ask whether the tenant (Kroger) or the landlord (Sandor Development) is to blame. The public can dole out consequences more effectively once the offender(s) is outed.
There seems to be a desperate shortage of chill pills in Nora.
Oh, and anyone who quits using the Monon because of a residential development at a single point along it is just being silly. Ride the whole trail, 10th to 146th, and tell me how this one little development impacts the use or atmosphere of this trail. This is an urban trail, which means parts of it actually look like they're in a city.
The 'before' photo was taken much farther south than the 'after' photo.
The asphalt path that runs to the left of the 'before' photo is the walkway to the YMCA I believe.
The 'after' picture must have been taken very near the 86th street rest area.
Either way, I agree that it is a very dramatic change. However, I also agree to wait and see until the project is complete. It may be a better green space in the end. It was a green space before but very polluted with trash.
I would imagine Kroger will help keep that immediate area clean.
I'm so sick of these neighborhood groups dictating what and how private land can be used. If they liked the trees so much, why didn't they buy the property from Sandor?
Lastly, let them finish construction before you start bashing Kroger and Sandor.
Nora and the city screwed up in two ways:
1. Should have required the power lines to be buried.
2. Either force preservation of what's there or require better landscaping buffer to be installed with pedestrian friendly corridor through the sea of kroger parking from entrance to monon. that would look good.
People: this is another failure of leadership. Developers won't do what isn't required!
The power lines are the same as they have been for years. You can require burying them but that is a new requirement.
If the Nora neighborhood association wanted an undeveloped nature park, they were free to ppurchase the land and make it so.
The project has been approved by the authorities. I still say let the project be completed before redesigning it.
Now safe, Mickey ran and jumped into Darth's outstretched arms, his giant black ears and white gloves made the robot encased head feel like a great man. They immediately made love and eventually gave birth to Fiona Apple.
Seriously, all of you naysayers - looks like you owe Mr. Eskenazi and Kroger a big apology.
Looks impressive!
2. Sandor is a joke.
3. All that said, let's see what they come up with when the project is done.
4. Bitching and moaning helps. Call the Mayor's action line (327-4MAC) and let them know what you think. I do. Alot. :)
Photos are not entirely misleading - though seem to represent different parts of the trail. Try examining the location using Google Earth and you will see about a 15 to 20 foot buffer of trees. (I doubt the Google shot is that out of date.)
Obviously NORA and KROGER did a poor job communicating on this project. Invasive species could have been removed and larger trees left for shade to accentuate the future landscaping developers have promised.
You think it's bad now. Just wait until the annointed one in DC gets finished owning and directing corporate America. Corporate and Gov'mint together is a recipe for disaster.
Another point, where did you get the opinion that everything in life is fair to everyone? Best get over that while'st you still can.
Kroger would not put up with a bad situation, don't forget, Sid may develop it....but with a tenant like Kroger they have a lot to say, and it will look great.