On the south side of the New River, across from Fort Lauderdale’s historic district, towers a stunningly large tree. The tree is an Albizia Saman – more commonly known as a “rain tree” because its leaves curl up during precipitation. One of our guides, Chris Brennan, recently brought to our attention that this nationally-treasured tree is in danger. This species of tree might look familiar to you because an even larger rain tree in Tobago served as the site where castaways built an elaborate tree house in the movie Swiss Family Robinson.
In 1982, the Fort Lauderdale rain tree was declared the largest of its species in the state of Florida. And since Florida is the only state in the US where rain trees grow, it is probably the largest in the country. In 1987, the Fort Lauderdale City Commission added this six-story-high tree to a list of 36 protected trees to ensure that it would not be damaged or removed. However, developer and property owner Asi Cymbal has plans to build an enormous condominium in the same location. If this rain tree is destroyed, only 11 protected trees will remain standing in the city.
Cymbal Development believes that a residential project will liven up an all-but-deserted area of Fort Lauderdale and provide affordable housing that will draw a young crowd to the city. A comment by one of the architects reinforces Cymbal’s high hopes for the area: “Where there is nothing, everything is possible.” Plans are in the works to build three buildings (one with 25 stories and two with 36 stories) that will collectively be called the “Marina Lofts.” The towering structures will utilize a “hip design,” will include a restaurant, and will provide housing for 1,000 tenants. Cymbal claims that he doesn’t wish to destroy the tree and has started making elaborate plans to relocate it. Although Cymbal says that the new location will make the tree more accessible to the public, the spot he picked is only 90 square feet. The rain tree’s crown (top of branches) spans 127.5 feet… Will the tree have enough room?
Local arborists argue that the tree won’t survive if it is moved. Click here to read an article from the Wall Street Journal that outlines the relocation plan. Even if Cymbal builds the Marina Lofts around the tree, the high rise buildings will block the sunlight and the tree will most likely perish. Fort Lauderdale’s nature-aligned citizens are worried and have started a petition that they hope will force Cymbal to alter his plans. Chris’s concern led him to make a comedic YouTube video about the situation (check it out here). Some citizens simply think building a new condominium in an area in which most housing developments already face foreclosure and are half-empty is a bad idea in and of itself. Florida in fact has the highest foreclosure rate in the US.
The rain tree, also known as the “five o’clock tree” and the “monkey pod” boasts the largest crown of any tree and is native to South America, Southeast Asia, and the Tropics. It is believed that early pioneers planted this specimen in Fort Lauderdale close to a century ago. Fort Lauderdale’s rain tree is 20 feet wide at the base of its trunk; I can only imagine how big the root system must be.
You can help save this magnificent tree by signing the petition: click here.
Thank you so much for posting a link to the Petition to Save the Fort Lauderdale Rain Tree. Please anything you can do to reach more people is – I am so grateful. If there is anything I can do to help please let me know. I can also send hard copies of the Petition to you to gather signatures, or to anyone else that would like one. Thank you so much! co-Creater, Founder of the Petition to Save the Fort Lauderdale Rain Tree – Jessica Kross jesred@comcast.net
It is my understanding these trees live between 80 and 100 yrs. The person trying to save the tree says the tree is nearly 100. We need jobs and economic growth more than a tree that is about to die. Try some common sense.
If what you say is in fact true, then so be it, come back with the plan some time later after the tree dies of natural causes. However, if you look for a while up and down Fort Lauderdale’s river front property, you’ll notice a major problem. There’s more than seventy percent of apartments, condominiums, that are completely empty. Now that by itself should tell you (especially since most of the land is developed on that river), that previous projects of a similar scale that were intended to revitalize that ‘center’ failed miserably. So you mean to tell me that this will be different from the dozens upon dozens of other implementations? Explain and prove to me that it will. Obviously building something isn’t going to solve the problem you speak of and apparently isn’t tackling the real source of the problem. Find where the rubber meets the road literally and quit with the stupidity already.
To John Mcenty there were so many problems with the Developer the project – not cohesive to the Historical district and neighborhood it is in. Too large for the land space of a complex, not enough parking, damage to the River itself. A Shady Study done by the Developer whose effects on the whole of Riverwalk across the water place all of it in shade the major time of days during the season when that area thrives with art and music all day long – thrown into shade – all day long – Left out of the survey. The Developers website – fake buildings – 9 buildings or so featured. ALL of the artists renderings, the only Built Building on his page – his office building – which he didn’t build. His lack of funding and inability to BUILD anything. His previous foreclosures and numerous lawsuits resulting from his previous employer who was a real developer and is now completely on the lam and out of the country to avoid said lawsuits. All documented. That the Developer Asi Cymbal HIRED supporters to take up chairs and where his bought for T-shirts all pretending to by Cymbal supporters at the final hearing and we all knew better, they ended up admitting it. This is who you chose to give that precious land to? To entrust with finish the riverwalk on that side of the River and repair the bridge and build 3 oversized, unattractive towers while River Walk mall rots on the other side? Give me a break. This Developer (so called) has JUST been kicked off his last attempt at a project in Miami called Design41 is currently and recently embroiled in a lawsuit with his very own partners DDDP who have gone to Court and had Asi REMOVED from the project and are now replacing him and moving forward with out him and suing each other. No, this is not Good for our River, our City and the Rain Tree. The second largest Rain Tree in the WORLD, a CHAMPION designated Tree in the World. That he would most likely Destroy. A tree much more important (planted by our city’s pioneers) that he has no respect or care for – or the Sense the Common Sense of incorporating this beautiful tree INTO the Design as we asked and making it a focal point, a massive draw. A thing of beauty to sit beneath it in the required first floor retail restaurant space. No he was too greedy he wanted the tree gone to suck up every available square foot to build tiny boxes to rent (386 sq foot) my living room, to go for the $ only and this is where that kind of Karma gets you. And the Petition is still circulating and still gaining signtures and the people of Fort Lauderdale don’t want Asi or his building and we are all holding our breath that our pols, Mayor, City Commission WAKE UP NOW and get away from Asi like MIami just did of the 3rd time and get out of this before its too late.