Metairie neighbors saddened to see demolition of live oak

METAIRIE, La. ( WGNO ) — There are now fewer live oaks in a Metairie neighborhood, and those who live there say its demolition should never have happened.

Neighbors on Hesper Avenue were stunned on Thursday as they watched the neighborhood’s centerpiece disappear right before their eyes.

The lot, located in the 1100 block of Hesper Avenue, where a live oak once stood, used to be owned by Jefferson Parish after it was secured through eminent domain in 2011. Years later, it went out for bid and is now private property.

“They had a ‘for sale’ sign on it for the longest time,” said Stephen Cazenave, who lives near the lot. “It was removed yesterday, and along with that came this huge excavator.”

Before the parish acquired the lot to make repairs to the nearby canal, Wendy Carter lived in a house on the property. She says the live oak was one of the house’s selling points.

“When we bought the house, the oak tree was, they said, between 105 to 130 years old,” explained Carter. “That was 30 years ago.”

Carter registered the tree with the Live Oak Society , and it is listed on their website, but according to a spokeswoman for the parish, the live oak is not protected under parish ordinance since it is on private property outside of the Old Metairie Conservation District.

“So, not only did you not protect something that you’re not going to get in your lifetime, but the people who build a ‘McMansion’ here will never get that back,” said Carter.

Some say the neighborhood won’t quite be the same without the live oak.

“Wow, it’s like halfway down already,” said Stephen’s father Aldo Cazenave. “You know, it’s sad.”

Coleen Perilloux Landry, chairman of the Live Oak Society, responded by saying, “We must get a state law to protect these ancient oaks. Soon, we will have none.”

The current owner of the lot was not there when WGNO’s cameras were and attempts to reach them for comment were unsuccessful.

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