5-0 Council Vote for Banyan Destruction Underway at Modera Development
The City Council voted unanimously to approve the destruction of three large 100 year-old Banyan trees that is happening right now at the Modera development at 400 S Dixie Highway.
Just prior to the unanimous vote, Marc Wigder praised the developer for “proffering a pocket park” in place of the three 100 year-old Banyans. Wigder is the chair of the CRA which gave the approval on the project on July 14th.
The first of the three Banyans that the Council unanimously approved to be bulldozed was cut down this week. The next giant Banyan to be cut down is in the background and will likely be bulldozed on Monday. If you want to see this tragic site with your own eyes go to 400 South Dixie Highway and you can view it clearly from SE 3rd street.
With the City Council cutting down 100-year-old banyan trees, voting for condos in public parks, and building on our beaches, development in Boca has gone too far. This didn’t happen by accident — it happened because our Current City Council allowed it and we need new leadership across the board.
Without Save Boca, the two iconic Banyan trees in front of City Hall would have been bulldozed along with those of the Modera development right now. The initial plans of the downtown lease--which were being voted for and pushed along by the Council--had the Miami developer building high rise condos on top of where the two City Hall Banyans currently stand. The only reason those are still standing and (at least for now) are no longer under threat is because of Save Boca and the thousands of citizens who supported the movement.
The Save Boca candidates below will work every day to protect our Banyan trees, parks and green spaces throughout our city. This current Council has already done enough damage and our city cannot stand three more years of this.
Time and again, developers were put first and residents last, with no regard for our neighborhoods, our environment, or our quality of life. Trees that took a century to grow are being destroyed for short-term profit, and that loss is permanent. This isn’t growth — it’s greed. And if City Hall won’t protect Boca Raton, then the voters must. Enough is enough!
