Some east Atlanta residents have one month to come up with a lot of green to preserve a little green space.

They hope to raise $1 million to buy a half-acre slice of land at the corner of DeKalb and Gordon Avenues. It is home to "Grandma Gordon," a century-plus pecan tree a landowner is eying for removal.

Allen Sullivan/AJC (ENLARGE)

Grandma Gordon, which sits at the lot on the corner of DeKalb Avenue and Gordon.

Allen Sullivan/AJC (ENLARGE)

The 150-year-old pecan tree (center) will be torn down to make room for condos unless neighbors can come up with $1 million to buy the lot.

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"This is the last publicly accessible green space in five miles between downtown Atlanta and downtown Decatur, and it needs to be saved," said Teri Stewart, 54, a Candler Park art gallery owner who has lived in Gordon Avenue for 30 years.

Adam Gaslowitz, who owns the land, recently submitted plans to the city that called for condos to be built on the property. The city arborist gave preliminary approval for Gaslowitz to remove the pecan tree and other trees on the property because his plans complied with Atlanta's tree ordinance, said Ainsley Caldwell, Atlanta's arboricultural manager.

But several residents and environmentalist appealed. At a meeting Wednesday night, residents told the Atlanta Tree Conservation Commission that the pecan tree has historical significance and should be spared.

Grandma Gordon is one of the last remaining pecan trees from the Sutherland Estate, built in the early 1870s by former Georgia Governor John B. Gordon, Stewart said. It appears immune to "pecan scab," a fungus that destroys hundreds of pecan trees each year.

"This tree, if preserved and propagated, could revolutionize pecan growing in the Southeastern United States," said Stewart, noting that the tree produces "huge, wonderful" pecans each fall.

Gaslowitz could not be reached for comment. His representative at Wednesday's meeting, architect Jeffrey Wren, did not return phone calls.

City officials gave concerned citizens 30 days to buy the property —which is for sale for $1 million— or the owner can either develop the lot himself or sell it. The group can also file an appeal in Fulton County Superior Court, Caldwell said.

The Lake Claire neighborhood has fought off would-be development on the site for years, said longtime Gordon Avenue resident Iris Hale, 60.

"I'm a tough old cookie, but the thought of that tree going down makes me want to cry," Hale said. "It's sad that greed may once again overcome green."