FORT LAUDERDALE — Those celebrated black olive trees that have helped make Las Olas Boulevard so iconic might be gone one day.
A dramatic redesign years in the making calls for removal of the tree-lined median to make way for wider sidewalks along with new trees planted on both sides of the street. But critics are pushing back, arguing the trees need to stay.
The fierce protests have made an impact on Mayor Dean Trantalis, who is now talking about a possible compromise.
“We have to make changes in baby steps,” Trantalis told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “We can’t lurch into changing Las Olas from what people have enjoyed all these years.”
Trantalis says he’s come up with a new plan: Keep the median and the trees. Widen the sidewalk, but only on the north side of Las Olas. Eliminate street parking on the north side of Las Olas to make way for the wider sidewalk. And leave the south side alone.
What brought about this change of heart?
“The community took a second look and said, ‘Wait a minute, we really love these trees,’” the mayor said. “I started walking up and down the street and realized that the idea of expanding the sidewalks was more important on the north side than the south side because the south side already has wider sidewalks. I thought it would be a reasonable compromise.”
When the black olive trees reach the end of their life span, the commission would decide whether to replant trees in the median or remove the median and plant trees on the south side of the street, Trantalis said.
Today, four blocks of olive trees line Las Olas. The trees, 16 in all, were planted decades ago. All 16 trees would be cut down under a long-planned redesign expected to cost millions of dollars.
Activist Chris Nelson organized a “Save the Trees” rally last Sunday that drew about 30 residents.
The rally also drew the ire of developer Charlie Ladd and his business partner Steve Hudson. They own property along Las Olas and are anxious to see the city move forward with a redesign they say will make the boulevard even prettier than it is now.
Ladd says he got an invitation to the rally, but stayed away.
“Why would I go to the rally to be lambasted and villainized when I spent my whole career trying to make Las Olas and the downtown area nicer?” Ladd told the Sun Sentinel. “The critics are saying they want to take out the trees. That’s not the story. We’re trying to improve the street and multiply the trees.”
There’s a catch, he admits. It’s unlikely mature trees would be planted. Young trees would line the street, eventually turning into shade trees as the years go by.
City officials have not yet decided what kind of trees might be planted, Trantalis said.
Dr. Mike Orfanedes, a certified arborist and commercial horticulture extension agent with UF/IFAS, has something to say about that.
He declined to specify which tree to choose, but said he does have some advice to share.
“They need to think about shade,” Orfanedes said. “We’re ground zero for climate change. People who visit there are going to be looking for shade.”
The trees should be attractive as well, he added. And fruit trees are out of the question.
“They need to be adaptive to our climate and the soil on that site and the space that’s available 30 years out,” he said. “And not just the space to accommodate the canopy, but the soil space for a tree of that species. They should be adaptive to wind and drought. And they also need to consider the root system. The bigger the canopy, the bigger the root system. That’s a pretty high bar.”
Mature trees tend to be rather expensive, Orfanedes said.
“Smaller trees do tend to catch up to their older counterparts and get themselves rooted in and ready to grow,” he said. “But if you plant smaller trees, people are going to miss the canopy.”
Some, including Ladd, have been pushing for oak trees.
“Big trees need big space,” Orfanedes said. “Oak trees do shed some leaves and they do shed some acorns. Some people don’t like that. There is no perfect tree. It’s a very complex decision. And it’s a big decision. Once they’re in the ground, you own them.”
Some have suggested the city arborist should be asked to weigh in on the health of the trees.
Others say they’d rather see the commission seek advice from an independent expert. That group includes John Roth, longtime resident and self-described tree lover.
“I would not trust anyone who works for the city at this point,” Roth said. “They have an agenda.”
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan