One lonely black olive tree will say farewell to Las Olas Boulevard on Thursday, leaving only 14 standing until their day too comes.
The tree — done in by termites — will be leveled and hauled off early Thursday morning from the eastern end of the four-block median that’s been home to the black olives for decades.
“There is significant decay through the core of the tree, weakening its structural integrity,” city spokeswoman Ashley Doussard told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “Active termites have also created damage, significantly increasing the likelihood of failure.”
In two to three years, construction is expected to begin on a controversial redesign of Las Olas that will cost at least $7.5 million.
When that day comes, every black olive tree lining the shady median along Fort Lauderdale’s famous boulevard will be chopped down — a fate sealed on Feb. 3 by a narrow vote of the city commission.
Commissioners Ben Sorensen, Steve Glassman and John Herbst voted for the redesign. Mayor Dean Trantalis and Commissioner Pamela Beasley-Pittman voted against it.
“Eventually they all are going to be taken out,” Trantalis told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “But this week, it will be just this one. It’s not happening all at once.”
A notice has gone out to residents alerting them of the upcoming removal of the black olive tree near Louie Bossi’s restaurant at 1032 East Las Olas Blvd.
“One tree will be removed because it poses a safety risk to pedestrians and nearby activity,” the notice said. “A second tree will be carefully pruned to reduce stress on the canopy and extend its lifespan. This work is limited to these two trees only. No additional trees are planned for removal at this time. This action is being taken now to address an immediate safety concern and protect the public.”
Work will take place before dawn on Thursday between Southeast Ninth Avenue and Southeast 11th Avenue, starting around 5:30 a.m.
Crews plan to temporarily close one direction of travel at a time for about one hour, starting with the eastbound lane, then switching to the westbound lane. Each closure may last up to an hour, depending on work conditions.
Black olive trees line the median along Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale on March 9. The tree-lined median will eventually disappear to make way for wider sidewalks. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
Commuters are warned to expect brief delays. To get to your destination on time, the city urges drivers to consider using an alternate route during the early morning hours.
In a strategic move, Fort Lauderdale’s urban forester Laura Tooley invited two of the city’s most outspoken residents to inspect the tree to prove it needs to be removed in the name of public safety.
Tooley took community activists Ted Inserra and Chris Nelson on a personal tour of the tree on Feb. 18. Both men have championed the effort to save the trees on Las Olas.
“While one tree may have its risk of failure reduced with pruning, the other has extensive issues where the risk cannot be reduced by pruning,” Tooley said in her invite. “This tree will be scheduled for removal in the interest of public safety. You have publicly expressed your concerns about the Las Olas trees. Prior to removal of this tree and related maintenance, I would like to meet with you both and show you the structural defects identified in each of these trees which warrant the stated actions. This opportunity is being offered in advance of scheduling the tree maintenance.”
The western grouping of black olive trees near the Riverside Hotel stand tall in the median of Las Olas in downtown Fort Lauderdale on March 9. (Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
After the tour, both Inserra and Nelson were convinced the tree was doomed. After the tour, Nelson broadcast the news on social media.
“They wanted to show us why this tree has got to go,” Inserra, president of the River Oaks Civic Association, said this week. “Of all the people to invite, it was me and Chris Nelson. There was no one else there. Just us two.”
The tree’s wound was hard to miss, according to Inserra.
“There was a big hole in the tree,” he said. “Termites were crawling around. It was pretty obvious.”
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan