‘It’s going to be beautiful’

In late 2020, Cymbal returned with a new plan that would have let the rain tree stay in place. That project called for two towers — one 35 stories and the other 32 — with 784 apartments that would have been built around the tree.

He has since tweaked and revised the plan to come

Rain tree in the spotlight

The majestic rain tree, the largest of its kind in the continental U.S., will be moved closer to the river. The tree, with a sprawling 130-foot-wide canopy, stands 100 feet high and weighs nearly 1 million pounds.

Stephanie Toothaker, attorney for the project, says the new design plan puts a well-deserved spotlight on the rain tree.

“The tree has been sitting behind a fence for a very long period of time,” Toothaker said. “And now it’s an opportunity to bring that out to the Riverwalk and really celebrate it, make it part of the Riverwalk and make it part of the project. You can walk down the Riverwalk and enjoy it. You can come by in a boat and enjoy it. You can sit across the river and enjoy the beautiful architecture. And you have a celebration of the tree.”

The tree will be relocated under the supervision of a world-renowned tree preservationist and an expert arborist, Cymbal told the planning board.

If the tree dies within five years of being moved, Cymbal will have to pay the city $1 million.

Fort Lauderdale granted the tree special protection in 1987, requiring commission approval before it can be moved or cut down.

In January, city commissioners approved the developer’s request to move the tree closer to the river.

In 2013, a previous commission approved Cymbal’s request to move the tree to a spot near a marina at Southwest Third Avenue and Southwest Fifth Street. The approval was given despite years of protest from fans of the tree who feared it would die if moved.

Last week, Cymbal assured the planning board he was going to great lengths to make sure the tree survives the move.

“We will be moving the rain tree to the Riverwalk where it can be better appreciated,” he said. “We spent a lot of time and resources to protect our beautiful rain tree. We hired the best tree preservationist in the world and the best arborist. And I even put up $1 million of my own money as security for the move.”