FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Fort Lauderdale officials are moving forward with plans to redesign Las Olas Boulevard, a proposal that would remove the iconic medians and black olive trees that have lined the street for decades.

The plan would widen sidewalks by at least five feet on both sides, replacing the medians to make the area more pedestrian and business friendly.

City leaders say most commissioners support the move.

“Yes, ultimately the medians and the black olive trees will be removed,” Mayor Dean Trantalis said, noting the project could add more trees overall in other areas.

Questions remain about how the redesign could affect street parking.

Meanwhile, in the nearby Himmarshee District, city officials are addressing a rise in late-night emergency calls.

The Fort Lauderdale Fire Department reported more than 1,100 calls last year, many involving intoxication and overdoses, the highest number since 2021.

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