By Ashley M. Casey

Staff Writer

Recently, reader Janice Anderton reached out to the Messenger asking about the fate of a tree standing on the construction site for The Landings at Meadowood, the luxury apartments being built on the former Tri-County Mall site on Downer Street.

Here’s what she wrote to us:

“A big tree … is still standing untouched in the middle of the construction zone after all the demolition, clearing of the whole area and all buildings going up. Through all this we have seen it bloom in the spring and turn colors in the fall. Not sure if they intend to leave it there permanently but it just seems amazing that it is the only original thing that has survived and is thriving.”

We asked Gregg Humphrey, the village of Baldwinsville’s code enforcement officer, what might become of this last tree standing. He referred us to John Kelly, superintendent of DGA Builders.

“I’m sorry to inform you that the tree will be removed this summer. I would move the earth to save it, but that is not going to happen,” Kelly wrote in an email with the subject line “The Lone Tree.”

“Unfortunately the tree lies in the middle of the footprint of another [apartment] building,” Kelly added. “Keep in mind that this property has been an eyesore for many years and that this project is going to improve business and add to the tax base.”