Sarasota Livin'

Please go vote YES for this -- you can do it now or on "election" day May 6th .... just do it ...

There are not that many issues where you will find "everyone" supporting the same side ... read about it in the Sarasota Herald Tribune and the Sarasota County web site info on the admendment. It seems fair that it is "extra special" to be allowed to build something intensive outside of the USB.. and the fact that it has to pay for itself is "obvious"

County government, business, neighborhoods and environmental groups all agree!!!!
Sarasota Citizens for Sensible Growth website has the Charter amendment language -- they were the folks that started the ball rolling --- rolling so fast that even the
Sarasota Chamber of Commerce says vote YES (see this site for a map that shows the USB) as does Save Our Sarasota

Well it looks like we will have less of a glut on condos downtown. Too bad for me I wanted to get a "bargin" right in downtown...

Condo projects scrapped

As the market for expensive high-rises evaporates, developers are shifting to building hotel rooms.

By KATHLEEN MCLAUGHLIN

SARASOTA -- Two would-be condo builders are backing out of their plans as the market for expensive high-rises vanishes before their eyes.

Premiere at Main Plaza was supposed to be 118 units in two 16-story towers at Fruitville Road and U.S. 301. Partners Wayne Ruben and David Band, working as Theatre Associates II, have had the plans approved since March.

Now Ruben says he wants to build 238 hotel rooms and sell them to two different owner-operators.

Meanwhile, Florida Main Street LLC probably won't do anything with the BB&T Bank building at 1740 Main St., partner Christopher Brown said.

"We're all a little concerned about the condo market," Brown said.

Brown's group is building 1350 Main, the tower across from Sarasota News and Books that he called a "dream project," perhaps because almost all the 134 units sold out in 90 minutes. That was in May 2004.
.....

Thomas Tryon writes in Sunday's SHT a column about Asset Based Community Development. Quoting Rev. Damon Lynch speaking at the Manasota Regional Neighborhoods Summit and some John McKnight writings ...

"We are also convinced that nonprofit organizations are much more powerful community actors when they are not exclusively focused on needs, problems and deficiencies but are effectively connected to the resources, or assets, of the local community."

What's a key strategy for making effective connections?

"Strengthen the community by investing in the community's assets," the guide states.
....

Florida Department of Community Affairs last week sent Sarasota County a letter addressing 3 problems with the county's proposed amendments to the comprehensive plan.

Read about it in the Sun Herald

The DCA response came in the form of a letter -- commonly referred to as a Objections, Comments and Recommendations report -- which provided overall praise for the county's proposed Evaluation and Appraisal Report-based amendments to the it's comprehensive plan.

"The county has done an outstanding job transforming the recommendations of the EAR report into goals, objectives and policies to update the plan for the ensuing planning period," wrote Mike McDaniel, DCA's growth management administrator, in a cover letter to the report.

McDaniel also wrote that the county's effort to encourage affordable housing in the different land use areas was impressive.

"This is an excellent ... report," said Anne McClung, the county's director of Planning Services in a statement. "A great deal of work went into both the EAR report and the EAR-based amendments and we can all be proud of the final product."

......

DCA did raise three issues of concern in the report that the county must address: They are:

* Expansion of the urban service boundary along State Road 776. The county rezoned part of a 131-acre site, half of which is outside the reach of water and sewer services.

* The location of the pilot affordable housing overlay district outside of the Urban Service Area -- beyond the reaches of infrastructure -- and in an area where there would be one home per every five acres.

* Coordination with the School Board regarding future schools located in rural areas.

The school district offered a similar objection, referring to a 292-acre site east of Interstate 75 on Palmer Boulevard saying such a development with more than 1,400 people, could pose a burden on the district considering how far the development would be from the nearest schools.

What are they saying ? THOU SHALT HONOR THE URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY ... Building Affordable Housing is awesome ... just do it inside the UGB...

Funny how the people in Sarasota agree with the state...
Citizens for Sensible Growth wants to place two sensible growth initiatives on the November 2006 ballot.

The first is: Require voter approval before county government expands the county's urban area and spends your tax dollars subsidizing sprawl.

Seems like a very good idea. I have heard many times that developments build outside of the current reach of "urban services" never pay their full cost. This means that the existing residents subsidize the cost of the new developments. I don't think that is what we should be doing -- that is "sprawl" .... build where you already have services and that is "infill"

I agree with Citizens for Sensible Growth and the DCA.

Sarasota City Manager Mike McNees and Rev Damon Lynch at the Manasota Regional Neighborhoods Summit.

City Management and Community Economic Development are both Zen like endeavours ....

Every organization needs to energize its people. In doing so, it converts its inner strengths and draws within to finally act with boundless energy, completing tasks without appearing unnecessarily stressed. It binds the inner and outer strengths of its people and marshals the energy into completing tasks the natural way. Such an energizing also entails self-mastery and self-regulation.

Translated you need to get the "people" motivated to do what they know should be done. Not a good explanation but I also agree... It is also my management style (if I have one) -- here is what we need to do ... what part are you excited about..

Save Our Sarasota the other urblog in Sarasota has a good post about having a vision for downtown. I agree we the citizens need to weigh in on how we want the city to develop.

There is more development coming to Main St.. SHT article about a 15-story mixed use tower across from the new Sarasota Herald Tribune building

which pictured above is still under construction. This part of Main St needs more of a pedestrian focus. There is a big "dead zone" where the big separate towers are. Retail with windows is what makes walking fun.