SAVE THE FORT LAUDERDALE RAIN TREE

SAVE THE FORT LAUDERDALE RAIN TREE!!!
Fort Lauderdale's Magnificient Rain Tree ("THE RAIN TREE") on the New River is a NATIONAL Treasure! In 1872 the Tree was Declared a Florida Champion for being the largest of its kind in the State and is perhaps the LARGEST OF ITS KIND in the ENTIRE UNITED STATES.

The FORT LAUDERDALE Rain Tree is 60 FOOT HIGH (ABOUT FIVE STORIES HIGH!), The Crown at the is 127.5 Feet in Diameter! Rain Trees have the largest Crowns of Any trees on Earth! THE GIRTH OF ITS TRUNK IS 19.5 FEET!

The Rain Tree is believed to be between 80 to 90 years old and to have been planted by City pioneers, it is located at 424 SW 4th Avenue on a 160 Foot Wide lot on the South Side of the New River, opposite Fort Lauderdale's Historic District and RiverWalk.

WHAT IS A RAIN TREE: A Movie Star - The 200 Foot Wide Rain Tree was Featured in Walk Disney's "Swiss Family Robinson."

In 1987 The Fort Lauderdale City Commission declared the "FORT LAUDERDALE RAIN TREE" PROTECTED against REMOVAL or DAMAGE.

A DEVELOPER WANTS TO BUILD CONDOMINIUMS "Marina Lofts" ON THE LOT THE RAIN TREE LIVES ON, on the eco-sensitive New River, already home to multiple condominiums - many of which are in foreclosure and whose units are EMPTY. The RAIN TREE is Stunningly beautiful, Stunningly Large and can only truly be appreciated by standing beneath it under its giant crown. IT IS Supposed to be a PROTECTED tree!!
The Developer wants to MOVE this tree to a too-small 90' lot next to a warehouse and away from the River.

The Only Experts who say the Tree will survive a move are the EXPERTS BEING PAID FOR BY THE DEVELOPER. THE ONLY ONES WHO SAY THE TREE WILL SURVIVE the move itself and will survive on the too small lot the Developer plans to Move this tree too are the Experts Paid for By the Developer.

THE CITY'S OWN ARBORISTS HAVE DELCARED THE TREE WILL MOST LIKELY NOT SURVIVE A MOVE and is too large to survive being transplanted to a 90 Foot Lot.

The Previous Developer's Plan: NO TRANSPLANT. After a year of study he decided it was best to leave the Tree alone!

IF THE FORT LAUDERDALE RAIN TREE IS MOVED THE DEVELOPERS OF MARINA LOFTS ENDANGERS ITS EXISTENCE.

THE CITY'S OWN ARBORISTS HAVE DELCARED THE TREE WILL MOST LIKELY NOT SURVIVE A MOVE and cannot thrive on a 90 foot lot, the crown will reach across the street and over neighboring buildings. There is just not enough room.

FACT: The largest Tree EVER transplanted: In California "Old Glory" 23.5 feet NARROWER, 3 feet shorter, with a truck of abouit 3 to 4 feet smaller around than our Rain Tree. #Source: Guinness Book of World Records#

THE Developer will Not alter his Plans to incorporate or include the tree in his plans for building another condominium. He will not entertain that the RAIN TREE be included as a valulable, viable, beautiful and life giving PART of his whole plan! And the Rain Tree is a Treasure. If he leaves the Rain Tree where it is with his Current plans the Rain Tree will have too much Shade, its enormous beautiful crown must have sunlight, and this will mostly likely result in the death of the Rain Tree. Unthinkable.

PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION TO THE FORT LAUDERDALE CITY COMMISSIONION TO:

1. STAND BY THE WORD OF THEIR PREDECESSORS AND CONTINUE TO PROTECT THE RAIN TREE FROM REMOVAL OR DAMAGE OR WORSE.

2. DENY the developer permission to transplant this tree and endanger its life and encourage the Developer if he must build to build to incorporate the Rain Tree as an integral part of his plans.

3. ENSURE that the tree is well protected during any construction that may take place at or near the site.

4. ENSURE THAT THE PROTECTION GRANTED THIS TREE IS HONORED.

The City of Fort Lauderdale once had 36 Protected Trees. IT NOW HAS only 12 LEFT - AND IF THE RAIN TREE IS MOVED, DAMAGED AND ITS HOME AND SUSTENANCE NOT PROTECTED - WE MAY BE DOWN TO 11! THIS IS NOT PROTECTION!!!

THE FORT LAUDERDALE RAIN TREE DESERVES THE PROTECTION IT HAS BEEN GRANTED. IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST RAINTREES IN THE WORLD!
Please sign this Petition to Save the Rain Tree, not Just for the City of Fort Lauderdale but for the Magnificient RAIN TREE that iT is, and possibly the Second Largest in the World. For ALL Trees. Please sign.