Sorry, Egypt. The "eyes of the world [were] on Fort Lauderdale" last night.
At least, that's what Marina Lofts developer Asi Cymbal said without the slightest hint of irony before a packed house at a Fort Lauderdale City Commission meeting Wednesday. The commission, voting on the relocation of a century-old African rain tree and on a massive Marina Lofts apartment complex designed by Danish architect Bjarke Ingels on the south side of New River, approved both measures: the tree move with a 3-1 vote and the larger project unanimously.
The meeting, which ran later than 3 a.m., was a marathon of contentious back-and-forth. It started with a presentation by Cymbal Development's team of yuppies, followed by statements from the public.
See also: -- Five Reasons Marina Lofts Should Be Nixed
Supporters listed off the city's future (buzz phrase: "Fast-forward Fort Lauderdale"), "affordable luxury" apartments, and "density" as selling points and outnumbered opponents, who worried about congestion, traffic, sustainability, and the life of the rain tree.
Ingels was one of the first to speak. Boasting heartthrob good looks and a natural charisma, he spoke about fusing maritime culture and urban life and bringing "life and activity" to Riverwalk. He also made a weird comment about the building resembling the silhouette of a woman, but for the most part he was charming and just looked damned happy to be the star of the show.
The arborists comprised the most educational and tolerable component of the presentation. They spoke convincingly about the ability to move the tree safely, with Paul Cox, vice president of one of the country's most reputable tree moving companies, reciting his experiences moving large trees in South America, Israel, and North America. When someone on the commission asked Cox his success rate "out of a hundred," he said "98" and pointed out that even though it's counterintuitive, smaller trees proved more problematic than large ones.
Cymbal has also promised a $1 million bond to ensure that nothing happens to the tree during its relocation.
However, that's still too much risk for some. Fred Carlson, who sits on the board of directors of the Central Beach Alliance, called Cymbal's stated commitment to the tree a "specious stunt."
"The million-dollar bond as a way to buttress survivability is a joke because it may take a year or two before it dies," he said. Carlson came to speak on an earlier item on the agenda, however, and left just as the presentation kicked off. "I can't stomach this," he said.
In turn, many opponents begrudged the project's inflexibility: Why can't this world-renowned architect redesign with the rain tree, which reportedly requires 200,000 gallons of water daily, in mind?
A few Lofts supporters didn't do the development any favors either. One said rather insensitively, "We are going to be the Mecca of Southeast Florida!"
