PINEAPPLE SQUARE - DEAL FOR WHO?

Several months ago the Burns Square Property Owners heard a presentation by the Pineapple Square developer John Simon at our monthly meeting and the overall feelings for the project were positive. The presentation contained very general information about the development and no financial details were offered or asked for. We are just learning what those financial details are and have many questions.

We are currently struggling with the amount of money and land that is being exchanged with the Pineapple Square developer for 350 public parking spaces. We did not hear any logical explanation on how this decision could be justified with the lack of support by the consultants, staff and appraisers. Burns Square certainly did not have this type of approval for the purchase of the Orange Dolphin property, which was to provide much needed parking for our area. Yet Burns Square had the support of staff and the consultants. Burns Square has also been operating, paying taxes and surviving the city's ups and downs for decades. In addition our 350 spaces would have been at least 5.5 million dollars cheaper than those in Pineapple Square, yet the commission stated Orange Pineapple was too expensive. Burns Square's need for parking also has the support of the parking consultants as outlined in the City of Sarasota Master Parking Plan and by Andres Duany in the City of Sarasota Master Plan 2020.

Burns Square has over 200 businesses employing over 1000 people contributing to our economic vitality. We have been paying our taxes in the good and bad years, sticking it out to help our city grow into a better community. For the past twenty years, Burns Square has drastically improved adding Banks, Restaurants, Medical offices, retailers, professionals, the busiest business in all of downtown, the Women's Exchange and brought back a theater to downtown in the 1980's, the Burns Court Cinema. We learned through our charrette process that the existence and growth of our businesses in Burns Square are restricted because of our lack of parking and yet our taxes, licenses and rents continue to climb. So we ask, how does the "new" development receive such an incentive so quickly, while there are so many unanswered questions while our area that has contributed so much over the years get turned down for a desperately needed parking structure?

The Burns Square Property Owners Association had one design request of the City Planning Department and the Pineapple Square developer, which was to keep the view open between the South end of Lemon and Pineapple Avenues and Burns Square. The Downtown Master Plan has recommendations for liner buildings on the city owned property that surrounds the Mermaid Fountain at the intersection of Lemon & Pineapple Avenues, which would block off the view between Burns Square and Pineapple Square. We were happy to see that the proposal by the Isaac Group did not include the liner buildings and they suggested improvements to that park instead.

We hope for the success of the Pineapple Square project, we even support helping the developer financially unless it is at the expense of those already doing their part.