Former Angel Oak owner weighs in on controversy
While many are concerned about new community, Felkel worried about road
By David Slade
St. Elmo "Speedy" Felkel knows the Angel Oak tree on Johns Island better than just about anyone, having owned it for 25 years.
The Post and Courier
St. Elmo 'Speedy' Felkel used to own the Angel Oak tree on Johns Island. He said the greatest threat to the tree is not a development planned on adjacent land, but the proximity of Angel Oak Road.
On Monday, he tiptoed into the controversy swirling around the famous live oak and a large development called Angel Oak Village planned on adjacent land, at Maybank Highway and Bohicket Road.
Felkel said he has some questions about stormwater runoff from the proposed Angel Oak Village development, with its hundreds of new homes, but he thinks the threat facing the tree is Angel Oak Road.
The centuries-old tree has been growing steadily closer to the dirt road, which leads to the small city of Charleston park that contains the Angel Oak.
"That road has got to be moved, or you'll be condemning the tree to a slow death," said Felkel, 88, of Hanahan, who said the controversy surrounding the tree prompted him to weigh in on the issue.
"The tree can't move. We have to get things out of its way," he said. "It will be in the middle of the road in 30 years."
The city already has moved part of a barbed wire fence originally installed by Felkel, to accommodate the massive, spreading limbs of the Angel Oak. Most of the tree's branches extend south, toward the road.
If you go
WHAT: Preliminary architecture and site plans for Angel Oak Village will be presented.
WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday
WHERE: Sea Island Apartments community center, 3672 Maybank Highway, Johns Island.
While opponents of Angel Oak Village debate whether 500 feet is enough distance between the tree and the proposed development, cars from New York and Alabama drove within spitting distance of the tree's longest branches Monday as Felkel watched nearby.
Felkel bought the tree and about 2 acres of land around it in 1964, and turned it into the tourist attraction that it is today. He built the gift shop that's now operated by the city and fenced the property to deter vandalism and trespassing.
In 1991, the city bought the tree and surrounding property for $127,900 at a delinquent tax sale.
The heavy wood blocks and steel cables that Felkel had installed to support some of the tree's branches are still there today.
"The development's not going to hurt us at all, as long as the water (runoff) doesn't flow under this property," he said.
Previous story
Angel Oak Area; Panel critical of development plans, published 04/09/09
The developer, Angel Oak Village LLC, and opponents have taken opposite positions on water-related issues, with opponents dismissing a hydrology report commissioned at the city's insistence by the developer. City officials have said they are confident the tree is well protected.
The development plan will be discussed once again at a meeting Wednesday evening.
Robert DeMoura, leading the development team for CC&T Real Estate Services, said that part of the latest plan for Angel Oak Village would take cars off of Angel Oak Road by creating a different way to access the park.
Reach David Slade at dslade@postandcourier.com or 937-5552.
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Grinder (anonymous) says...
City officials have said they are confident the tree is well protected.
Great. Now if I could only have confidence in those city officials. Remember that the Aquarium was going to be self-supporting? Remember that all that construction for the cisterns downtown was going to alleviate the flooding problems?
Oh yeah, I feel much better now.
April 14, 2009 at 6:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Eye_on_You (anonymous) says...
Watchout for Speedy....the name says it all....when he sounds like he knows best then it's best for him alone whatever his intrest maybe....the growth of the tree should be projected for 200 years, there is technology for that, then put the boundries for the adjacent development......probably this will limit the number of lots to 2 or 3
April 14, 2009 at 6:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Billie (anonymous) says...
The government needs to protect this tree. I agree you should project the tree's growth for 200 years and create an appropriate buffer around it. Who in our government, by name, is going to stand up as an advocate for this tree? And who in our government, by name, is going to allow this tree to be ultimately damaged or killed with their inaction? Somebody start the list, please.
April 14, 2009 at 7:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LEYH (anonymous) says...
The city has known for years that the road is on the root system compacting soil and roots. Know what else is on the root system?..the parking lot and the gift shop.
The city has known for years and has done nothing. When this property went up for sale, the property owners on the other side of Angel Oak Road put their property into conservation so it can't be developed or sold, nor can the road be moved further away into their land. I say they made a smart move.
I know exactly who should be on this list of people responsible if the Angel Oak dies.
April 14, 2009 at 8:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yeahright (anonymous) says...
Why is this guy's opinion relevant, much less worthy of a headline on the front page of the Local section?
Headline should read "Guy who lost Angel Oak property due to failure to pay property taxes chimes in with uninformed opinion."
April 14, 2009 at 9:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Clemsurf (anonymous) says...
All of this for a tree? Better hope a hurricane, fire, or earthquake doesn't strike.
April 14, 2009 at 1:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
Now, I don't hate the tree. I really like it, but it is just a tree. Plant and acorn, and watch it grow.
April 14, 2009 at 3 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rollnwflo (anonymous) says...
And there is the fall line, those who care, and its a tree. True that it is just a tree, never be anything else, don't know how, just a tree. The world and its changes that old tree has seen, the years rolled by until decades ment nothing. Oh yeah, what are we going to do, put in a village? I'm betting on the tree myself, it will be here long after our folly is played out.
April 14, 2009 at 4:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yeahright (anonymous) says...
"Plant and acorn, and watch it grow"
Some mighty stupid comments on here today. In 20 years your planted acorn won't be as big as the smallest limb on the Angel Oak.
Just a tree? You'd prefer another strip mall?
April 14, 2009 at 6:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Kingjackabobo (anonymous) says...
This from the same guy that just to go cut firewood off of the thing. Delinquient certainly was the correct choice of words here. What a tool.
April 14, 2009 at 7:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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