A massive new Apple Store planned for downtown San Francisco is being held up by… tulip trees?
The site in question overlooks Union Square, with Apple planning to demolish a large existing building and replace it with a giant, two-storey glass structure reminiscent of the iconic New York Apple Store on Fifth Avenue. However, in order for work to commence on the building Apple needs to bring in the right equipment, which necessitates the removal of seven tulip trees currently blocking the path.
Trouble is, things aren’t as straightforward as they might seem.
Apple, for its part, has hired an arborist, who has told the San Francisco Department of Public Works that the trees are in poor health and need to be replaced. Apple has promised to do this, by creating a refurbished public plaza with new trees at the back of the store. These trees would be planted after construction is finished.
The Department of Public Works seems to have a different opinion, though, with a spokesperson claiming that the trees are mature, healthy, and should not be removed.
While Apple is no stranger to pushing its plans through — forcibly if need be — it should be noted that San Francisco takes its trees very seriously, with permits for both trimming and moving them, and large fines for removing them completely.
This removal process includes city inspections of each tree in question, while public objections during a subsequent 30-day comment period automatically results in a public hearing.
It’s unknown how long it will take for a final decision on this issue — but demolition has not yet started on the existing building, following which construction work could take up to one year.
For a company like Apple which (at least in one telling of the story) was named in tribute to Steve Jobs’ work on an orchard, having a new Apple Store blocked by trees is definitely ironic, but them’s the breaks…
Source: ifoAppleStore
