[Source: Rob O'Dell, Arizona Daily Star] -- In an effort to preserve portions of the historic Fort Lowell property, the city cut down several trees in the past few days whose roots had been eating the foundations of the adobe buildings at the site. The city had been trying to buy the 5.3-acre Fort Lowell site for preservation for more than 15 years, but the owner, Harry Adkins, refused to sell, saying the city perpetually lowballed the offers. The property includes remnants of the fort's officers' quarters, guardhouse and parade grounds, built in 1873.Under a deal with developer Jim Campbell, the city acquired the site at North Craycroft and East Fort Lowell roads last year after Campbell bought it and then swapped it to the city for property elsewhere. This week the city took down about a half a dozen roughly 100-year-old trees, including a couple of mesquites, to prevent the roots from encroaching further on the adobe buildings, said Don Pawlowske, a park-maintenance area supervisor. He said the trees cut down were only a fraction of the trees on the site. He said the city, the state and Pima County have worked together to preserve the historic buildings on the site. Jim Conroy, the East District administrator of the Parks Department, said the site will eventually be a historic park. [Note: To read the full article, click here.]
