The live oak tree that has dominated a gateway to Jackson

Ward for nearly 30 years will be coming down this weekend

to make way for a new statue and plaza honoring Richmond

business leader Maggie L. Walker.

The work is to begin Saturday, Sept. 17, and will result in

street closures through Tuesday, Sept. 20, around the site at West

Broad Street, Adams Street and Brook Road in Downtown, the

city Department of Public Works has announced.

The closings will include Brook Road between Broad and

Adams streets; the northbound lane of Adams Street between

Broad Street and Brook Road; and the right lane of westbound

Broad Street between Brook Road and Adams Street, the department

stated in a Tuesday release.

Along with removing the tree, the work will involve removing

much of the existing plaza where the tree has stood since 1989.

This is the first step in the redevelopment of the site to prepare

for construction of the plaza and the installation of the statue of

Mrs. Walker, best known as the first African-American woman

in the nation to found and run a bank.

The city plans to invest nearly $1 million in the development.