Keep Montrose Green – Stop Skanska from Destroying Our Trees!
Keep Montrose Green – Stop Skanska from Destroying Our Trees!
The Issue
Montrose is one of Houston’s most vibrant and historic neighborhoods, known for its tree-lined streets, unique character, and strong sense of community. But now, Skanska, a multinational real estate developer, is planning to cut down six of the seven mature trees - mostly live oaks - at the iconic corner of Montrose & Westheimer to make way for a high-rise tower.
These trees are not just part of the landscape—they are vital to our environment, our health, and our quality of life. They provide shade along a double bus route, reduce flooding, purify the air, absorb carbon, and slow traffic speeds, making Montrose safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Young trees, which developers often plant in place of mature ones, will take decades to provide the same benefits, if they survive in our increasingly hot climate. We need more trees and less concrete!
The destruction of trees is unnecessary to the development of the block, and Skanska has not claimed otherwise. At a City Planning Commission hearing on January 23, Skanska admitted their plans would remove nearly all of the live oaks, but they failed to disclose this impact when requesting a variance to reduce their setback from 25 feet to just 5 feet. This is unacceptable.
Montrose has already lost 36% of its tree canopy in the last decade (Kinder Institute, April 2024). We cannot afford to lose more. Every other tower on Montrose Boulevard has incorporated trees into its design—Skanska must do the same. Save our mature trees!
We Demand That Skanska:
✅ Preserve the live oaks on the site and adjust their plans to build around them.
✅ Honor their commitment to sustainability by protecting the existing urban canopy rather than destroying it.
✅ Engage with the community to find a solution that balances development with environmental responsibility.
Take Action Now!
✍️ Sign this petition to demand that Skanska and the City of Houston protect these trees!
📩 Email the City Parks Departments—tell them Montrose values its trees! Send email to PRAskForestry@houstontx.gov. and cc savemontroseliveoaks@gmail.com when you do. 🌳 Or call and leave a strong message of support for the trees 832-395-8450.
📢 Spread the word—share this petition with neighbors, businesses, and local leaders.
Development doesn’t have to mean destruction. We call on Skanska to prove that they can be the responsible, eco-conscious company they claim to be.
🌳 Montrose is not just concrete. Montrose is trees. Montrose is home. Let’s fight to keep it that way! 🌳
#KeepMontroseGreen #SaveMontroseLiveOaks #SkanskaCanDoBetter
341
The Issue
Montrose is one of Houston’s most vibrant and historic neighborhoods, known for its tree-lined streets, unique character, and strong sense of community. But now, Skanska, a multinational real estate developer, is planning to cut down six of the seven mature trees - mostly live oaks - at the iconic corner of Montrose & Westheimer to make way for a high-rise tower.
These trees are not just part of the landscape—they are vital to our environment, our health, and our quality of life. They provide shade along a double bus route, reduce flooding, purify the air, absorb carbon, and slow traffic speeds, making Montrose safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Young trees, which developers often plant in place of mature ones, will take decades to provide the same benefits, if they survive in our increasingly hot climate. We need more trees and less concrete!
The destruction of trees is unnecessary to the development of the block, and Skanska has not claimed otherwise. At a City Planning Commission hearing on January 23, Skanska admitted their plans would remove nearly all of the live oaks, but they failed to disclose this impact when requesting a variance to reduce their setback from 25 feet to just 5 feet. This is unacceptable.
Montrose has already lost 36% of its tree canopy in the last decade (Kinder Institute, April 2024). We cannot afford to lose more. Every other tower on Montrose Boulevard has incorporated trees into its design—Skanska must do the same. Save our mature trees!
We Demand That Skanska:
✅ Preserve the live oaks on the site and adjust their plans to build around them.
✅ Honor their commitment to sustainability by protecting the existing urban canopy rather than destroying it.
✅ Engage with the community to find a solution that balances development with environmental responsibility.
Take Action Now!
✍️ Sign this petition to demand that Skanska and the City of Houston protect these trees!
📩 Email the City Parks Departments—tell them Montrose values its trees! Send email to PRAskForestry@houstontx.gov. and cc savemontroseliveoaks@gmail.com when you do. 🌳 Or call and leave a strong message of support for the trees 832-395-8450.
📢 Spread the word—share this petition with neighbors, businesses, and local leaders.
Development doesn’t have to mean destruction. We call on Skanska to prove that they can be the responsible, eco-conscious company they claim to be.
🌳 Montrose is not just concrete. Montrose is trees. Montrose is home. Let’s fight to keep it that way! 🌳
#KeepMontroseGreen #SaveMontroseLiveOaks #SkanskaCanDoBetter
341
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Petition created on February 4, 2025