Why bananas are growing in a downtown Fort Lauderdale lot

State of play: Broward County property records show that The Benjamin Companies, a New York-based real estate development and management company, owns the property.

• The bananas have been growing since at least January, according to photos on the Broward property appraiser website.

The intrigue: The state's Greenbelt Law allows qualifying agricultural land to be taxed based on its agricultural use rather than its market value, potentially lowering property taxes.

• Broward property records classify the banana parcels as "vacant commercial," not agricultural.

What we're hearing: Broward Property Appraiser Marty Kiar tells Axios that The Benjamin Companies applied for an agriculture classification in January, which his office denied.

• They have appealed the decision to Broward's Value Adjustment Board.
• Kiar says his office doesn't believe the property is being used for a bona fide agricultural purpose and doesn't warrant an agriculture classification.

Catch up quick: The Benjamin Companies bought the 2.44-acre site comprising nine parcels for $33 million in 2022.

• It's a full city block that includes a 6-story office building and a large parking lot.

• In 2023, the Fort Lauderdale City Commission unanimously approved the site plan for two 30-story towers with 542 housing units and 13,764 square feet of commercial space.
• But two years later, the real estate firm listed the site for more than $33 million, according to The Real Deal.

What I saw: The empty lots are filled with dozens of banana trees, some growing in grass and others surrounded by gravel.

• The office building and neighboring parking lot are still there.

What they're saying: The Benjamin Companies didn't respond to Axios' requests for comment.