Greening the East Side
Disturbed by the tree devastation resulting from last October’s snowstorm, Eric Fox, owner of Mr. Fox Tires, is taking action. He is working with ReTree WNY and is committed to plant thousands of trees throughout the east side.
William Street between his store and Fillmore Avenue is the site of his first project where up to 300 trees plus shrubs and flowers will be planted. The beautification project is planned for this summer with help from AmeriCorps and neighborhood volunteers. Next up will be a similar effort along Bailey Avenue between William and Dingens streets.
Fox is also working to create ‘mini-parks’ on vacant, publicly-owned lots. “We’ll be planting as many trees as we can to beautify and reforest the east side,” he says. He is finding a great deal of support for his ideas at City Hall where there is growing recognition of the urban forest’s social, economic and environmental benefits.
The tree-planting effort is expected to bring communities together while helping to improve the appearance and feel of Buffalo’s neighborhoods. The urban forest helps to cool and clean the air, mitigates the noise of traffic, provides shade and beauty for residents, improves property values and provides shelter for an array of wildlife.
Long term, Fox is exploring the establishment of a foundation to help implement his ambitious greening plans. “My goal is to plant thousands of trees over the next five years in the inner city,” declares Fox.
Fox bristles at the suggestion he is a role model, claiming he is only putting money were his passion is. “I am doing this to make a statement and a difference, though I would love to see other business jump in and help,” he says.
Organizers of Re-Tree WNY are buoyed by his commitment. “In the everyday hustle and bustle working to improve our city, Eric Fox shines as a beacon of light. He reminds us that our efforts are not in vain and that there are others who are willing to step up to the plate and serve as role models to us all,” says Justin Booth of the Wellness Institute of Greater Buffalo and Re-Tree WNY.
Fox Tire has been family owned and operated since 1955 and currently has twenty five employees working a stone’s throw from the Central Terminal. Eric and his younger brother, Jordan, took over the business after their father, Don, passed away in 1992.
“We have built our business on good service. The east side is where I should be; on a busy thoroughfare and no competition nearby. My customers come from throughout WNY and business is fantastic. I am busier than I can handle and I am seeing 15-20 percent growth every year.”
Kevin Connors, who is advising Fox on installation of a green roof on one of his William Street buildings is amazed. “Eric is on fire and really motivated. He is dedicated to his own initiatives but is partnering with environmental groups compatible to what he wants to do,” says Connors. “He is committed to the east side where there is a critical need. It’s impressive.”
Photo credit: ReTree WNY. Newly planted tree on Dartmouth Avenue.
Get Connected: Mr. Fox Tire Co. 716.856.1696; 1035 William Street
The complete story on Eric’s plans can be found in the May print edition.
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Comment Options
NorthBuff
Nice tree - vvvvvvvery nice tree. Why do the newly planted trees in the Parkside-Crescent Ave. area look like crap? No leaves. The city must have purchased ours trees. Mr. Fox please informed the city who your supplier is.
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W-Villager
NorthBuff, Who's taking care of the trees that were recently planted in the Parkside/Crescent area? We just had an unusually dry May, the 4th driest ever recorded in Buffalo, so maybe that's why those trees appear to be in distress. Some trees were planted in my neighborhood last Spring, and they required a lot of watering. I saw plenty of residents out there keeping each one soaked constantly. And this year, most of them look great! Do you know if the residents around Parkside and Crescent are involved with keeping the new trees in their neighborhood healthy? ...just a thought.
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MRodgers
W-Villager, during our ReTree WNY meeting last week we discussed the need for watering as many of these trees are in dire need or have even passed the mark for nurturing. It was decided that we would look into a watering service to assure these little saplings' success until such time as various community groups can provide this service. However, it was also discussed that the Parkside Community Association was going to take care of the trees mentioned in NorthBuff's post. So, NorthBuff, contact Kathy Peterson (great lady, by the way) and check with her to see if that program for watering is still up and running. If not, that's another neighborhood to be added to the water service list.
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needles
I was just at Fox Tire recently, I happened to be standing outside the garages specifically thinking; "how ugly this area is along the roadside, it's too bad nobody is planting trees around here. if I owned Fox Tire, I'd do something about this mess." There's a couple of far spread sorry looking trees that probably aren't there on purpose, and some weeds, and some kind of concrete wall crumbling into decay.
...Now I come on BR the past week or so and see Mr. Fox is installing a green roof, and planting all these trees! Wow! I apologize to Mr. Fox for my thoughts at that moment in time for thinking nobody cared how that area, and the east side looked.
I have been a customer of Fox Tire for 10+ years now, and will now without a doubt continue my loyalty.
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DSB
How come the City never enlisted the expertise of the SUNY Forestry School in Syracuse? I bet many of those ambitious and smart kids would have jumped at the opportunity to work with Buffalo. It would have been a win-win situation. Again, another oppurtunity lost.
I had the unfortunate experience of dealing with someone from the City that claimed to be an "expert" on trees. Its amazing the poor quality of people that work for the City. Is anyone actually ever hired based on merit? It almost feels like there has been little effort or planning by the City in regards to the species and quality of trees that were planted.
Many many thanks to Fox Tire!!! You won a future customer.
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PrincetonElms
That photo illustrates a widespread error: a pile of soil or mulch ("volcano mulching") around the tree. It should be level with the surrounding ground.
By the way, there were over 40 very nice Princeton Elms at the Elmwood Home Depot tonight, going begging at the super-cheap price of $59. Check them out - they are easily worth three times that much. One of them has been residing in my yard for only 1 week, and is already growing new leaves on top. Here it is on day it was planted: http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/97/princetonelmim0.jpg - note that it's over 10 feet tall !
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