GROUP FIGHTS TO SAVE OLD HOMES, OLDER TREES
River Oaks Examiner, December 2004

While walking her dog about three weeks ago, Jane Dale Owen noticed a pleasant but uncommon scent in her neighborhood near the corner of River Oaks Boulevard and Del Monte - freshly cut pine permeated the air. Something was wrong.

"When I looked up it was like a scene of mass devastation," Owen said of the residence at 3310 Del Monte. "It looked like a logging camp."

Owen and the group Citizens' League for Environmental Action Now estimate that in the days that followed between 16 and 20 oaks and pines were felled on the property, some of which were three stories tall.

"I felt really, really sad for River Oaks," Owen said. "This is a great loss for us all."

In addition to the trees, a 70-year-old house facing Del Monte was demolished about two weeks later. The structure, which changed owners in April 2004, according to Harris County Appraisal District Records, had been vacant for over a year.

Still, the structure "looked to be in perfect condition," Owen said. "My neighbors and I are devastated by the loss of a house of such historic significance."

The owner of the property could not be reached for comment.

Both Owen and Charles Stillman of CLEAN said in order to preserve the historic and unique characteristics of River Oaks, wording in the language of deed restrictions needs to be clarified. CLEAN estimates that within the last year, 25 houses have been demolished in River Oaks.

"This just got in under the wire," Owen said referring to proposed rewording of the deed restrictions designed to preserve trees within the subdivision.

Owen plans to present further plans for restrictions concerning healthy trees and historic homes at the January meeting of the River Oaks Property Owners.