‘Makes no sense!’ Columbus residents object to this development removing trees

Construction of a new business at 1419 Double Churches Road in Columbus has drawn the attention of neighbors, especially those upset about tree removal and the addition of redundant retail in their community.

What’s being built at 1419 Double Churches Road?

Ryan Pruett, director of the Columbus Building Codes and Inspections Department, confirmed to the Ledger-Enquirer that a Dollar Tree is being built on the 14.3-acre property at 1419 Double Churches Road. The permit was issued on May 6, and construction on the lot began June 17.

Pruett said the city had minimal involvement with Dollar Tree acquiring the property. It was privately owned, and the city was involved in issuing the permit, he said.

City arborist Eric Gansauer declined the Ledger-Enquirer’s requests for comment. The amount of trees cut down and the amount of remaining trees on the property are unclear as of publication.

The realtor office listed on the permit for 1419 Double Churches Road, Greenhaw Realty, did not respond to the Ledger-Enquirer’s requests for comment.

E&C Double Churches LLC is the parcel’s most recent owner, according to Columbus property tax records. The company bought it from Land Grove LLC and C Land Properties LLC in April for $325,000. The previous sale price was $966,291 two years ago. The land’s value is listed as $1,156,120.

Why do Columbus residents oppose the development?

On Nextdoor, a social networking site for neighbors, Keith Lovett posted June 14, “Does anyone know what is being built next to CVS on Double Churches Road? I’ve been told so many different things.”

Among the 19 comments as of July 7 reacting to Lovett’s post, Sherrie Baxley expressed her disappointment.

“Sad to see all those trees cut down and a Dollar Tree built there,” Baxley wrote. “Now there will be CVS, Family Dollar, and a Dollar Tree all on the same street.”

Another user, Marie Hand, suggested that Dollar Tree should have been built at another location.

“Again – much better place would have been at Williams/Whitesville,” Hand wrote. “Would love to know WHY that land has not been sold after years on the market. That corner would be a perfect place for Dollar Tree, Ace Hardware etc. AND its not right down the street from Family Dollar & a mile from another Dollar Tree! Also, the land across from Williams has not been sold! Makes NO sense!! Hoping the realtors working on this land can explain what the problem is.”

The Ledger-Enquirer visited the surrounding neighborhoods to ask residents about this development.

Bradford Brundidge, living near the construction site, said he wasn’t aware that a Dollar Tree is being built there but noticed the view from his backyard of the property’s trees was gone.

“It’s just an open space,” Brundidge said. “I used to see all the trees. Now, I see nothing. … I prefer [looking at] trees.”

Brundidge also said that he thought this Dollar Tree was an unnecessary addition to the neighborhood because a Family Dollar is a three-minute drive away, at 2801 Double Churches Road.

“You have a Family Dollar at the tracks where you hit Veterans [Parkway],” Brundidge said. “I guess Dollar Tree is competition for Family Dollar.”

Dorothy McDaniel, executive director of Trees Columbus, a Columbus nonprofit dedicated to planting, preserving and protecting trees, expressed concern about the environmental consequences of the development.

“The tree ordinance requires replacement TDUs (Tree Density Units), but losing mature tree canopy will have an immediate impact, and it will take years for newly planted trees to replace that canopy cover,” McDaniel said in an email to the Ledger-Enquirer.

When asked about community complaints about the loss of trees, Pruett emphasized that the city’s tree ordinance will be enforced with this new property.

“We do have development ordinances that require a certain number of trees to be replaced, and all of that would have been reviewed and approved by the city arborist through the permitting process,” Pruett said. “They will be required to meet the city’s ordinances as they relate to tree planting.”

It’s unclear how many trees will have to be replaced to fulfill the tree density unit requirement in the tree ordinance. The TDU is a formula that aims to replace trees using a credit system, which can be achieved by counting existing trees to be preserved, planting new trees or combining preservation with new plantings.

This story was originally published July 8, 2025 at 5:00 AM.