Roswell residents say they feel blindsided by the removal of more than 35 specimen trees on the grounds of Mimosa Hall — and frustrated, once again, by being left out of key city decisions.
City council held an open mic forum on June 30 when emotions ran high over the loss of trees as old as 150 years. They were cleared for redevelopment and parking as part of the Founders Park project.
City officials acknowledged during the forum that the number of trees to be removed was never clearly communicated to the public or among themselves. The tree removals took place across four acres of the 22-acre property, where Mimosa Hall and Gardens is being transformed into an outdoor event space with support facilities.
“Moving forward, this has been a learning experience for all of us,” said Councilwoman Sarah Beeson, who added that she regretted not asking more questions before voting with the rest of council in favor of the project.
Mayor Kurt Wilson said there was no wrongdoing with the tree removal, and the elected officials are often required to make decisions based on information the public may not always have.
“And with that information is the responsibility to do the right thing… it doesn’t mean that something is being done wrong,” Wilson said.
The broader Founders Park project will connect Mimosa Hall to Bulloch Hall, Holly Hill, Historic Town Square Park, and Barrington Hall, creating a walkable green space intended to better showcase Roswell’s historic assets.
While the project itself is not in dispute, the removal of mature trees and how it was handled has sparked renewed scrutiny over city transparency.
Residents cited a pattern of decisions made with limited public input, including the attempted summer weekend closure of Canton Street in 2023, the fight to preserve the Roswell Masonic Lodge, and the mismanagement of the Oxbo Road project in 2021.
Several residents are now calling for an independent investigation, citing a potential violation of an ordinance requiring notification to the Historic Preservation Commission.
Former Mayor Jere Wood stirred pushback from council members when he repeated his belief that the grounds of Mimosa Hall had been “raped” by the tree removal.
“There were no public hearings. The Friends of Mimosa and Friends of Bulloch were not told how many trees would be removed, Wood said. “Historic Preservation and the Historical Society were not told. Not even the city council was shown the final plans…”
Allison Vrolijk, a Roswell resident, attorney, and former planning commission member, also criticized the process.
“This needs to be made right as it can be made at this point in time, given that the process called for in our city ordinance was not followed,” Vrolijk said.
Mimosa Hall is a 6,308-square-foot Greek Revival mansion built in 1841 for John Dunwody. Wood noted that the gardens at Mimosa Hall were planted in 1850 by Dunwody. John’s son Charles founded the city of Dunwoody. The original spelling of the family name was changed for the city.
The city of Roswell purchased Mimosa in 2017 for $2.95 million.
“We in this room agree that the Mimosa destruction is profoundly heartbreaking,” said Betty Price, a former council member and state legislator, during the forum.
Many residents expressed concern that officials run Roswell more like a business than a government entity.
Steven Malone, director of Recreation, Parks, Historic and Cultural Affairs, said the city has a responsibility to generate revenue from its historic assets to offset ongoing maintenance costs.
But residents argue the issue isn’t growth — it’s exclusion from the process.
“I’ve been beating the drum for years about the lack of process of the refusal to follow even limited processes and codes set forth in our Roswell ordinances,” said resident Marisa Pereira. “…Following a process would mean transparency, thorough review, and accountability in sign-offs and implementation…”
“I demand an independent investigation… It can’t just end here,” said resident Michael Dal Cerro. “A case has been made this evening, and a search for truth for the root cause of this disaster.”
Any city that prioritizes profit over its population or ecosystem is a failed city. The future generations will look back on this time period with shock and horror. What an absolute disgrace.
The preservation folks may not realize where they live. This is Metro Atlanta, a place of low quality development designed to attract migrants from other states. There is no other thing going on for it. Roswell is doing what all the metro has done, and like most of the metro faces declining suburban areas and shifting lower income demographics. The days of Atlanta being a great place to live are over, there will only be small pockets, and they’ll turn Mimosa hall into a subway sandwich shop if it comes down to it. Move elsewhere if you want preservation, that train has never had a track to Atlanta.