Photo by Dan Whisenhunt

State Sen. Elena Parent, D-Atlanta, and state Rep. Karla Drenner, D-Avondale Estates, are entering the fray over a residential development in Kirkwood that would require clearing trees.

Parent announced she will be holding a press conference at 145 Norwood Avenue in Kirkwood at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

Drenner, and Rep. Stacey Abrams, D-Atlanta, are expected to attend.

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The press release says Parent will “address concerns about the demolition of one of Atlanta’s oldest Oak Groves in order to build an 11 home neighborhood.”

“The area intended for development is home to several hundred year old White Oaks, including the DeKalb County Champion White Oak, which is listed as the largest white oak in the City of Atlanta on the Trees Atlanta Champion Tree list,” the press release says.

The project has been embroiled in controversy for months. Earlier this year, the Atlanta Tree Conservation Commission upheld an appeal to remove the trees, inspiring dueling petitions over the commission’s decision.