- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Residents Upset After Old Tree Cut Down in Hampton Neighborhood
Locals say the removal of the large tree has changed the character of the Old Wythe neighborhood.
Published on Feb. 24, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Residents in Hampton, Virginia's Old Wythe neighborhood are concerned and frustrated after a large, possibly centuries-old tree was recently cut down on Locust Avenue to make way for new development. The tree's removal has changed the character of the street, which the community takes pride in preserving. While the city is working on design plans to ensure new homes match the neighborhood's historic feel, the tree's owner, a real estate company, was within its rights to remove the undesignated tree. Locals are now advocating for the city to create a tree canopy preservation plan to prevent similar losses in the future.
Why it matters
The Old Wythe neighborhood is known for its historic character, which the city has been working to preserve through design guidelines for new homes. The removal of this large, old tree undermines those preservation efforts and raises concerns about the impact on the neighborhood's aesthetics, air quality, and environmental resilience.
The details
The tree, which was possibly hundreds of years old, was cut down on a lot owned by a real estate company. While the city is developing design plans to ensure new homes match the neighborhood's character, state law does not allow the city to control the removal of trees unless they have been specifically designated. This tree had not been designated, so the owner was within their rights to have it removed, even though residents felt it was detrimental to the neighborhood's identity.
- The tree was cut down on February 24, 2026.
- A community meeting to discuss the neighborhood's design plans was held on February 23, 2026.
The players
Robin Mabie
A resident of Locust Avenue who expressed concern and frustration over the tree's removal.
Hampton, Virginia
The city that is working to preserve the historic character of the Old Wythe neighborhood through design guidelines for new homes.
Real estate company
The owner of the lot where the tree was located, who was within their rights to have the tree removed despite resident concerns.
What they’re saying
“Taking this tree down has changed the character of the street, and it can change the character of the neighborhood.”
— Robin Mabie, Locust Avenue resident (wtkr.com)
“Coming in and taking down trees to develop an infill lot and a home seems counterproductive on the pride that Hampton takes in its historic preservation.”
— Robin Mabie, Locust Avenue resident (wtkr.com)
What’s next
Mabie is advocating for the city to develop a tree canopy preservation plan that could require new trees to be planted when others are removed, in order to prevent similar losses in the future.
The takeaway
This incident highlights the tension between development and historic preservation in Hampton's neighborhoods. While the city is working to maintain the character of areas like Old Wythe, private property rights and lack of tree protections can undermine those efforts, raising concerns about the long-term impact on the community's identity and environmental resilience.
