A contingent of Avondale Estates residents will try again tonight (Wednesday July 23) to convince the city and a developer to save a tree slated to be cut down to make way for a redevelopment project downtown.

The water oak tree has stood at the corner of Oak Street and North Avondale Road for 80 to 100 years. But Century Retail plans to remove the tree as part of a $68 million plan to bring condos, shops and a Publix store to the four-block area.

The fate of the tree stalled the project last year, though the city eventually ruled that the tree would have to go to make the development work. Two different arborists who inspected the tree said it was unhealthy and needed to come down, regardless of the development. And, as recently as last month, city commissioners discussed how keeping the tree would force the redesign of a project more than two years in the making.

The city and Century in recent months have neared finishing a deal that would allow the project to begin moving dirt.

That developer's agreement, and the tree, are on the agenda of the city commission workshop session at 5:30 p.m. tonight at city hall.

Discussion could be limited tonight, and the final plan could make it to the city council agenda on Monday, when a vote could be taken on the final deal.

The city's Downtown Development Authority and City Manager Clai Brown have both recently recommended the council vote to move the project forward - without the tree.

For the boutique grocery to open as planned in July 2009, the city and the developer must make their deals this summer so DeKalb County can begin issuing the necessary permits.