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
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
10 responses to “Plans for giant San Francisco Apple Store hit tulip trees roadblock”
Ridiculous those Magnolia soulangeana trees can be removed and boxed to be replanted C’mon #Apple get your shit together whatever money to do this has just been earned when i typed the first two words of this comment.
Ridiculous that San Francisco is forcing Apple to hold up construction for trees that they already promised to plant.
Apple should have said that it was building a Muni trunk line boondoggle, like the current one. Lapdog city hall would personally show up with spades and burlap bags.
I see bureaucrats trying to feel a little bit more self-important than they already feel.
F’ing SF! It’s a CITY! A city of buildings. Vegetation that isn’t in parks or original old-growth are part of the landscaping which is subject to change.
Magnolias, not tulips
those aren’t tulip trees – as landsart pointed out, they are magnolias. liriodendron tulipifera are completely different
I’m from the south and there are numerous magnolia trees.
Most are decades old and took them a considerable amount of time for them to mature.
Magnolia tree roots often weave in and out of the ground. Thick solid roots capable of holding several grown men.
Pipes, foundations…are all in jeopardy, if they are planted too close to building structures.
Good, there’s no way we should start cutting down trees just for a bloody shop, they should have done their research.
When Apple built their new cafeteria, City of Cupertino required Apple to keep every single tree — moving them as necessary. Some of them were “volunteer” trees that most people view as weeds, but they also had to be accommodated. “Million dollar trees.”