This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Unnoticed "Deaths" in Carrollwood

Trees and other foliage are a vital factor in creating aesthetic ambience for a neighborhood, but that aspect of life is disregarded at Sabal Palm at Carrollwood.

It may sound unusual, or even bizarre, to be shocked or aggrieved at the death of a plant.

When the deaths of multiple plants, trees, flowers, and shrubs completely transform your sense of comfort and security within your own home (not to mention your sense of aesthetic pleasure), though, you may understand
the situation of residents at an apartment complex in Carrollwood. Even more
tragic is the fact that none of these plants were diseased or dying to begin
with -- they were merely inconvenient to someone's agenda.

Sabal Palm is tucked far back from Dale Mabry just north of Gaither High School, separated from the traffic by a pasture occasionally grazed upon by genuine, in-the-flesh livestock. So you'd be forgiven for not even noticing its existence as you zoom by north or south.

Find out what's happening in Carrollwood-Northdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

There's not much announcing its presence. Its driveways and sidewalks are shaded by many overhanging branches and shrubberies representing a myriad array of species. 

However, you may have noticed, if you live or work nearby, the near-constant, rending crashes of giant tree limbs amid the constant snarl of chainsaws. If you actually live at Sabal Palm, it's hard to escape. This has been the depressing reality of existence here for the last few weeks. The sidewalks aren't quite so shaded anymore.

Find out what's happening in Carrollwood-Northdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Sabal Palm was purchased sometime earlier this year by Capreit, a Maryland-based real estate company, which came as a bolt out of the blue to residents. They were informed of the ownership change by a bare-bones flier-on-the-door the day it happened, which explained why they were no longer able to pay their rent online or submit service requests at the website of the former owner, Equity One Apartments.

Speaking to an office employee at Sabal Palm while seeking an explanation for the systematic spree of destruction wreaked on the plant life throughout the complex, I was told that the new owners "wanted to put their mark on the place."

Apparently, the trees needed to be "trimmed" to make sure none of the branches touched the building walls, in preparation for a massive pressure-washing and painting of every edifice. This, residents were informed, would involve some invasion of privacy and require painters be given access to apartments.

The buildings do not need to be painted. A casual look (and a deeper inspection) would make that obvious to any observer. In the name of "putting their
mark" on Sabal Palm, Capreit has embarked on a complex-wide rampage
throughout the existing flora, mutilating and denuding their branches,
littering the sidewalks with casually-shorn branches and leaves (some quite
sizable), blocking walkways with unattended heavy construction equipment, and
leaving such dandy items as miniature chainsaws sitting at ground level, free
to be picked up by passerby of any age.

As with the larger equipment, any tampering with or removal of these power tools would be unnoticed, because there were no workers in sight to secure them. And I've more than once in the past week removed heavy limbs and palm fronds from beds of Mexican petunias that were being smothered under the casually amputated and discarded branches.

The quality of life at Sabal Palm has steadily declined since Capreit took over the complex. Residents' lives have been compromised in multiple ways, with no apparent benefit, and that seems likely to continue. Trees which once shaded
windows and lowered AC costs in the summer have been violently and artlessly
sheared away so that the full sun can pound through the shades, which do little
to stop it. Foliage that once made the sidewalks around the ponds  vibrant and colorful (including a large, blooming hibiscus) have been removed and trashed like so many weeds. And the unending whine of saws and power tools continues.

Capreit, incidentally, proudly announces on their website (http://www.capreit.com/web/about-us.asp) that the main goal of their "close-knit team of caring apartment professionals" is "to provide our residents with the warm and comfortable lifestyle that each of them deserve." Funny, then, that this
destruction was undertaken with not a whit of concern for the desires of their
new residents.

I understand that apartment complexes change hands. It's not uncommon for them to be traded around and among giant realty companies. I also understand that this issue may not hold much import for a non-resident. But it should sadden those who value the aesthetics of living in a place made serene and comforting by so much greenery. It should also anger those who don't want to accept that natural features (even those that were probably the result of massive landscaping themselves, like at Sabal Palm) can be destroyed at a whim, for no real reason, without consulting residents in any way, sacrificed at the altar of nothing more than the gratification of Capreit's massive ego.

If Capreit truly wanted to "put their mark" on Sabal Palm, and live up to the credo
proclaimed on their website, a better way would've been to leave the trees and
buildings alone and engage with residents over their more direct concerns.

 

 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Carrollwood-Northdale