Good evening, everyone. My name is Julia Helen Tracy. I have lived in the Ravenna neighborhood off-and-on since 1980 and I am here tonight to give testimony on behalf of the tree known locally as Big Red. And the first, crucial point I want to make is that I am not here to divide the neighborhood nor am I in any way opposed to the development of this property; in fact, I believe it is a splendid idea.

Now, what is so important about this one tree? And how can one tree arouse such passion and controversy in a neighborhood?

This tree has Presence, with a capital "P" and that rhymes with "T" and that stands for Thuja. Thuja plicata, commonly known as the Western red cedar. Thuja plicata was sacred to the indigenous people of this region, some tribes referring to themselves as "people of the redcedar" because they relied so heavily on the tree for basic materials. So this tree has great ethnobotanical value - and for those of you unfamiliar with the term, ethnobotany is the study of the relationships that exist between people and plants. Those first peoples knew how to live WITH the trees, even while they used them. It was a symbiotic relationship. And it is in this spirit of symbiosis that I believe we can, and should, be proceeding.

An archival photo of the tree indicates that it most probably volunteered from the seed bank around 1930. So I estimate that Big Red is 80-some years old. When I look at this tree, what I see is a magnificent opportunity to develop the property in an innovative and creative way that will not only improve our neighborhood but will also provide us with a delightful green space of enormous beauty. Preserving this exceptional tree will add unique historical and ecological value to such a progressive development.

So the second crucial point I want to make is that this project can meet its desired unit density and still preserve the tree. Others can speak to the technicalities of how this might be achieved, but let there be no doubt - it can be done.

Now, there is absolutely no way that planting a few street trees and a couple incense cedars can make up for the loss of this tree, in terms of its ability to filter pollution, capture rainwater, anchor the soil, provide wildlife habitat, create shade, and - perhaps most significant to this group - offer us respite from what psychologist Richard Louv has termed "nature deficit disorder". Dr. Louv coined this term in 2005 to describe the trend he sees of children spending less time outdoors, which he believes is resulting in a wide range of behavioral problems. But I believe Dr. Louv's term describes what many of us feel, especially in urban environments.

The third and last crucial point I want to make is that yes, we know we must have urban density. But what is that density to look like? And do we want to be on the cutting-edge of new development? Because this is an unparalleled opportunity to create something that other developers can emulate. Density with mature trees. Density with nature. Density with beauty. Thank you for your attention.

16 March 2009