BURNS SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING

On October 29th the Burns Square Property Owners and merchants invited over 500 people that live within 750 feet of the intersection of Orange and Pineapple Avenues to a neighborhood meeting.  We invited everyone to a discussion/debate about the Burns Square mixed-use area, the possible move of the Woman's Exchange, civic parking garages, the Burns Court Cinema and the proposed roundabout at Orange and Pineapple Avenues.  Our goal was to keep our neighbors well informed of the facts as well as have an opportunity to express concerns and have questions answered.  We were completely open and transparent about our goals for this special part of Sarasota as we work toward the vitality this mixed-use area depends upon.  

Over 75 people attended the meeting throughout the hour discussion over wine and cheesecake. The weather was wonderful and it was a great night for neighbors to bond and meet one another.  We want to thank those that came and for spending an hour with us to learn what we are so passionate about.  Everyone's support has been greatly appreciated.

WALLWORK REHIRED FOR WORK ON ROUNDABOUT

Wishing we listened to the expert Michael Wallwork P.E. the first time, the Burns Square area hired him again to study his 2005 proposal to the Burns Square property owners. During the 2005 charrette with Ramon Trias, Mr. Wallwork studied the dangerous and ineffective intersection at Orange and Pineapple Avenues. He came up with three proposals, one of them being a roundabout.

The scheduling of the Storm Water drainage project by Sarasota County for this intersection got the property owners refocused on improving this crossing. If the area was going to be completely torn up, everyone wanted to see if any improvements could be made when it was put back together. Bill Dennis reintroduced the Mr. Wallwork concept of a roundabout this past summer. In order to assist the city, the Burns Square property owners paid for Mr. Wallwork to create a conceptual design.

We are pleased the roundabout will work in the Orange/Pineapple location and will add many advantages to the area which could not be realized with the Orange/Alderman roundabout. In addition to a number of benefits the city and the area merchants will also be able to capitalize on the synergy with the County's Storm Water drainage project starting April 2008. The cooperative effort will allow the merchants to only have to deal with construction on Orange Avenue once.

Benefits the roundabout will bring to our mixed-use area:

1. Make Pedestrian Space a Priority over the Vehicles
2. Connectivity, Access for Customers within Core Shopping area
3. Allow continued Bus Service and Emergency Vehicle Access
4. Accommodate High Volumes of Traffic
5. More Pedestrian Space and Street Trees
6. Pedestrian Safety - 30mph 50/50 chance survival/40mph 20% chance survival/20mph 95% CHANCE OF SURVIVAL
7. Slower Speeds at highest use Pedestrian crossing as well as merchant awareness
8. Addition of Cross Walks - new cross walk on Orange Avenue
9. Gateway Entrance, Mark beginning of Downtown
10. On-Street Parking added
11. Reduction of Traffic Lanes down to 2 instead of 4

The conceptual design had to shift current vehicular compromises that already exist on the main thoroughfare that affects a large customer base to the side streets which effects a small customer base. Vehicles exiting Oak Street onto Orange Avenue can only take a left turn in the current design which may change. A vehicle may have to use Rawls to Alderman or go around the block in Burns Square. But as quoted by the Laurel Park Neighborhood Association President, Ms. Deborah Dart in the November 1, 2007 Pelican Press, "You just turn and go around the block like you do everywhere else downtown." Seems simple to us too.

GUEST COLUMN BY DENISE KOWAL - CONNECTIVITY

Guest columnist Denise Kowal, Herald Tribune September 24, 2007

SARASOTA SHOULD JOIN THE MANY CITIES THAT HAVE REMOVED HIGHWAYS

The de-designation of U.S. 41 is one of the most important components the Downtown Sarasota Master Plan 2020, which was adopted with enthusiasm by the City Commission by a unanimous vote. The costs were high, the benefits were obvious and it was understood that great things take work. A mobility study group was put together by the city to move this initiative forward.

Little did we know we were being swept up in a political and emotional battle that had very little to do with good urban planning or common sense. One former commissioner actually stated, "I know it (de-designation) is the right thing to do, but it would kill me politically." How can our city be handed a home run within our master plan and yet to our dismay have our City Commission continue to strike out in implementing it?

I first heard about the option to move the highway away from the waterfront from New Urbanist Andres Duany several years ago during the Downtown Master Plan charettes. I also learned we are not alone in facing this challenge. Many cities, for many reasons, are removing highways along their waterfronts. In fact, there are cities not only facing the de-designation challenges but also successfully tackling them and getting the highways removed with great success.

Through the Congress of New Urbanism, I have had the opportunity to hear John Norquist, president and CEO, speak of his efforts while mayor of Milwaukee to reclaim its waterway. While we cower in fear over impacts to the mighty automobile and minimize the benefits of de-designation, other, truly progressive cities have been doing what we think is unthinkable. Here are a few examples:

Milwaukee removed the Park East Freeway, one of the largest highways to ever be purposely destroyed, led by Norquist, who said, "The DOTs simply think of these areas as a places to drive through, but this is your city. This is a place with real value."

San Francisco removed the Embarcadero Freeway after an earthquake. This was after two citizens' initiatives failed because the majority of citizens believed the highway department, saying they could not afford to lose the highway. The city now uses its grid system of streets instead and has no noticeable increase in traffic congestion.

The city had such success that it tore down a second highway, the Central Freeway, replacing it with boulevards with about 50 percent of the vehicular capacity.

Seattle, through the People's Waterfront Coalition, led by Cary Moon, is successful in gaining momentum in removing the Alaskan Way Viaduct that blocked off the city in the 1950s.

Trenton wanted to get the river back for its state Capitol and surrounding neighborhoods from a highway constructed in the 1950s. Ingrid Reed has been instrumental in the movement.

Providence is removing Interstate 95 from its downtown -- imagine that!

Vancouver, which is a fabulous urban city, never had any highways and today will not allow any more road growth to force people into the downtown to use the grid system.

If we want livable communities, transportation must be subordinate to urban design and we need to start using the tools we adopted, the Downtown Sarasota Master Plan 2020 and the SmartCode. As with any major change, critics will find a thousand reasons why this can't be done. This current effort will be no exception to that rule.

Every city I mentioned faced the same types of criticism. But isn't it time we saw past our auto-mindedness and took our bayfront back, connected our neighborhoods and welcomed traffic calmly into our city instead of allowing it to swarm around us like a bunch of bees?

I say it is, and many others agree. Will you join us?

BURNS COURT CINEMA IS NOT MOVING

For some reason a few individuals chose to spread a rumor that the Burns Court Cinema was moving out of Burns Square...then the press caught wind and printed the rumor, never asking us.  We in Burns Square tried to stop the rumor as it spun out of control, pleading for someone to just ask us the truth but nobody did.  We can only apologize for any heartache this caused our thousands of loyal customers and want you to know we did the best we could.  Please continue to enjoy our charming cinema, Burns Court Cinema, Sarasota's only independent film theater.  

Members of the Cinema enjoy added benefits.  To become a member of the Sarasota Film Socity go to www.filmsociety.org, they are a non-profit organization bringing the best in independent films to all of us in Sarasota.

PROFESSIONAL PARKING ANALYSIS CONDUCTED

Further studying the parking needs in the Burns Square area, expert help was sough from Rick Chellman, P.E. of TND Engineering, http://www.tndengineering.com/people/chellman.html. Extensive research was done during the 2005 charrette and some of that information, zoning code regulations as well as the Downtown Parking Master Plan information went into the Chellman report. The report is, "A preliminary analysis of the anticipated parking needs for the proposed redevelopment of the Burns Square area in Sarasota, Florida has been completed in conformance with the Urban Land Institute's 'Shared Parking' methodologies." A first analysis was completed to calculate what might reasonably be construed as the "minimum" parking needed for Burns Square. These calculations assume that all parking - even including residential spaces - are available to be shared, and that several of the existing vacant blocks are not yet redeveloped. A peak weekday demand of 1,990 spaces (20% sharing) and a peak weekend demand of 2,097 spaces (16% sharing).

The Downtown Parking Master Plan adopted by the City Commission shows between 1,265 to 1,620 spaces constructed in three separate civic parking facilities throughout the Burns Square area.

The Downtown Master Plan 2020 identifies three important civic responsibilities, Civic Buildings, Civic Space and Civic Parking. A few quotes from the Master Plan:

“A surface parking lot is an example of the worst type of street frontage, affording the passerby little sense of enclosure, protection or interaction.”

“The Master Plan proposes allocating particular uses to appropriate location within the Downtown Proper, with incentives that reward future developers for maintaining a low to mid-rise scale for their projects. The Master Plan suggests ways to strengthen the emphasis on pedestrian scale retail and restaurant uses along certain corridors such as Main Street and Palm Avenue. The Master Plan also suggests a broad based public program to develop parking structures; this program coordinates with other forms of private sector development.”

“The new ordinance will contain a provision for providing parking spaces in municipal parking garages to be purchased by the developers of individual buildings thereby preventing the necessary bulking up of buildings in the attempt to provide on-site parking.”

“On-street parking is a key element of the walkable, livable downtown environment.”

“…written and graphically illustrated plan for building form, land use, public open spaces, pedestrian circulation, vehicular circulation and parking.”

SMARTCODE WORKSHOP ORGANIZED BY KOWAL & PLACEMAKERS

On August 9, 2007 Denise Kowal organized a SmartCode Workshop with Placemakers, instructors of the code and developers of the SmartCode Complete.  Over 100 people participated in the day-long workshop at the Payne Park Auditorium.

From the SmartCode:

The SmartCode written by Andres Duany and calibrated and adopted by the City of Sarasota through the Master Planning process incorporates Smart Growth and New Urbanism principles, Transect-based planning, environmental and zoning regulations, and regional, community and building-scaled design provisions.

The principles of Smart Growth and New Urbanism support communities that are town-centered and transit and pedestrian-oriented, with a mix of housing, commercial and retail uses, while preserving open lands and achieving other environmental goals.  New Urbanism was born in the early 1980's with the design of the groundbreaking new traditional town of Seaside, Florida.  Since then, planning has progressed on over 900 New Urbanist communities across the continent.

Many of the most-loved traditional towns of North America were deliberately and thoughtfully planned.  However, in our time, over the past sixty years, places have evolved in a completely different form.  They have spread loosely along highways and haphazardly across one-open country, enabled by the widespread ownership of automobiles, cheap petroleum, and generalized wealth.  Standards in favor of the automobile over the pedestrian.  These practices have created strip shopping, big box stores with enormous parking lots, and sadly gutted downtowns.  This movement has made walking or cycling beyond one's own cul-de-sac dangerous or even impossible.  There has been simultaneous destruction of both towns and open space - the 20th Century phenomenon known as sprawl.  The form of our built environment needs a 21st Century correction.

The SmartCode was created to attack this problem at the point of decisive impact - the intersection of law and design.  It is a form-based code, meaning it envisions and encourages a certain physical outcome - the form of region, community, block, and/or building.  This form is compact, walkable, and mixed-use, and it is meant to be comfortable, safe, and ecologically sustainable.  It allows a mix of uses within the neighborhood, so its residents don't have to drive everywhere.

The operating principle of Transect is that certain forms belong in certain environments; for example, an apartment building belongs in a more urban setting, and a ranch house belongs in a more rural setting.

Denise Kowal, President of the Burns Square Property Owners Association is one of only two people in Sarasota who are professionally trained in the SmartCode.

ROUNDABOUT APPROVED 5-0 FOR SURTAX FUNDING

As a result of work completed by the Burns Square Property Owners with Urban Planner Bill Dennis, a request for SurTax funding was presented to the City Commission on July 17th, 2007 for a roundabout at the intersection of Orange & Pineapple Avenues.  The presentation not only pointed out what a wonderful idea the roundabout was but included an opportunity to have synergy with the County's storm water project that starts in April 2008.  A rather comical exchange took place about the whimsical photoshop "Carmen Miranda Fountain" probably costing Burns Square $200,000 less in funding, going from $1,000,000 down to $800,000.  We are happy with the $800,000 and feel confident the completion of the roundabout can be achieved and will bring great improvements over the current layout, design and appearance.  With or without Carmen Miranda!

BURNS SQUARE MAPS THE FUTURE

THE SARASOTA OBSERVER, THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2007

long-term planning by Roger Druin/City Editor

BURNS SQUARE MAPS THE FUTURE

(Photo:  Denise Kowal, president of the Burns Square Property Owners Association, shows two roundabouts designed to slow traffic on Orange Avenue.)

With seven of 20 acres primed for development, property owners want to get ready for growth - before it happens.

Denise Kowa, president of the Burns Square Property Owners Association, and urban planner Bill Dennis put the final touches this week on a 3-by 5-foot map of Burns Square.

The map summarized an effort by merchants and property owners to create a blueprint for their commercial district.  The challenge is to promote a walkable customer-friendly district that maximizes modern development while preserving historic areas.

"This is us recognizing that Burns Square is changing," Kowal said.  "So, how do we contribute to making sure the change matches a vision of where we want the city to go?

"We're not requiring anyone to do anything," she added.  "We just care how Burns Square grows up."

The map shows where about 300 on-street parking spaces can be added and where two roundabouts would slow traffic on Orange Avenue, allowing pedestrians to feel at ease walking from store to store.  it shows possible future condo and commercial projects, and how they should fit in with the streetscape, sidewalks and existing buildings.

The Burns Square Owners Association funded the process to create the map, which is becoming the foundation for a mini-master plan for the district.  Thus far, owners have spent $35,000 on the process.

Kowal sent a scaled-down version of the map to city commissioners Monday.  She also sent a copy to the president of the merchants association to distribute to merchants.

Kowal plans to conduct a feasibility study to show how much the improvements would cost, and illustrate how the city would capitalize on financial contributions because of anticipated increases in tax revenue from new projects.

Next, she is going to present the map and the plan to the City Commission.  If the commission forwards the plan to city staff, Dennis said he will work with city officials to explain the blue-print and why it is important to the future of the city.

Dennis, a renowned New Urbanist who has created designs for an impressive list of mixed-use projects across the country, said he wants to plan a workshop with city staff to go over the plan.

"In many cases, each department will find what is wrong with the plan and why the city can't do it," Dennis said.  ""We have to hold a workshop to find out where the problems are and methods to solve them - instead of just saying 'this can't work."

The map encompasses about $3 million to $4 million in improvements, in addition to several city projects already in the works for the district.  Kowal said she expects some funding to come from the city's tax increment financing.  

Commissioner Ken Shelin met with Dennis when he was in town.

"I thought he had some very simple ideas that are very do-able and wouldn't cost much," Shelin said.

The commissioner said moving the sidewalk and curbing to create additional parking spaces on Orange Avenue is one improvement the city could begin planning immediately.

Other long-term changes will take time.

One of those improvements is a roundabout at the intersection of Ringling Boulevard and Pineapple Avenue and another at the intersection of Orange Avenue and Oak Street.

dennis envisions public art in the middle of both roundabouts.  One possibility is a large pineapple at the Ringling Roundabout.  The roundabouts could be designed in a way that enhances the district's identity and makes it more of a destination place.

Vice Mayor Kelly Kirschner said he looks forward to reviewing the district's plan.

"I applaud Mr. Dennis and the Burns Square people for taking the initiative and coming up with a plan that says this is what we want to see our area look like,"  Kirschner said.  "This is a starting point.  As far as when something will happen and what the costs are, that is an open discussion that has to take place."

URBAN PLANNER BILL DENNIS REWORKS PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS

Continuing to be leaders in Urban Planning the Burns Square Property Owners hired renowned Charter Member of the Congress of New Urbanism Bill Dennis to update the public improvement Master Plan created during the 2005 charrette. Dennis came to the city for four days and worked endless hours, day and night with the property owners and meeting with city staff from engineering, parking and planning.  His efforts and input is quite valuable on so many levels and Burns Square is quite appreciative and fortunate he is helping us out.  

The Burns Square Property Owners have dedicated thousands of hours and tens of thousands of dollars to study and create visions for this great area of our downtown, which is so loved by everyone. No other part of downtown has been studied as extensively or been given the attention to detail as the Property Owners have brought to the table for Burns Square on their own dime. 

Not a bit of taxpayer money went into the volunteer hours or costs for plans the property owners and experts continue to put together to help further its success.  The City Commissioners were the first to see the finished drawing.  At the request of some city commissioners, the property owners presented the current plan to the entire city engineering department and the entire planning department in July 2007 offering assistance with public improvements.  We look forward to working with the city, county and community to help our area continue to be an asset.

STORMWATER PROJECT PUT OFF ONE YEAR

 In a cooperative effort between the Burns Square merchants and property owners a decision was made to put off construction of the County's storm water project until April 2008.  The project is scheduled to last 7 months.  The entire intersection at Orange and Pineapple Avenues will be re-piped along with some sections of Oak Street.  The property owners will use the time to study the intersection for improvements.

PRAYERS FOR BURNS SQ PROPERTY OWNER HARRY ROSENBLUM & HIS SON

Harry's son had a tragic accident in the early hours of December 8th. A Blog has been set up for people to read the progress of his only son, Michael. Michael's birthday is December 22nd; he will be 17 years old. The Blog address is http://michaelarosenblum.blogspot.com and you are encourage to leave a message.

TIF CRAAB Project Prioritization October 25th

I attended the CRAAB TIF Project Prioritization workshop October 25th. Speakers were allowed a whopping 3 minutes to explain why their project(s) should be a high priority use of the TIF money. I spoke as President of the Burns Square Property Owners Association and refreshed their memories on the requests of Burns Square made several months ago. Our priorities in Burns Square remain Municipal Parking (#5), Ringling Avenue Roundabout (#14) and Burns Square Improvements (#7). What was not on their list was Attainable Housing that they already recommend funding with 1/3 of TIF money. The CRAAB board had 18 items to prioritize. There list will be provided to the City Commission (CRA) who will make the final decisions. The following is the CRAAB board list of priorities:

1. Wayfinding System $1.5 M TIED WITH...
Fruitville Rd Improvements $3.9 M
3. Downtown Historic District $10 M TIED WITH...
Public Private Partnerships $10 M
5. Municipal Parking $14 - 20 M TIED WITH...
Cultural District $35 M
7. Burns Square Improvements $5.23 M
8. Bicycle Network Improvements $0.8 M
9. Selby Five Points Park $2.9 M
10. US 41 & Gulfstream Roundabout $4.5 M
11. Storefront Facade Program $10 M
12. Cocoanut Avenue $1.0 M
13. US 41 Pedestrian Sleeves $1.9 M
14. Ringling Ave Roundabouts $1.7 M
15. US 41 & Fruitville Roundabout $12 M
16. US 301 Pedestrian Sleeves $2.2 M
17. Fruitville Rd & East Ave Sleeve $0.6 M
18. Oak St Belvedere $0.1M

Background:
As some of you may remember, several months ago I presented to the CRAAB board the improvements we came up with during our charrette process. Kate Lowman (LPNA President), Susan (Burns Square Association Vice President), and a Director from the Burns Court Cinema attend the meeting with me to show support for the Burns Square requests. I have also presented our requests to the DTP and have their support. I have asked the CCNA Board twice the opportunity to show our plans to the CCNA members but they declined. I have also met with each commissioner to explain the items on our request since they will ultimately make the decisions as the CRA.

The CRA and CRAAB had a joint meeting back in August and put projects into different levels of priority. This is one of many meetings to prioritize projects. During this meeting Parking, Ringling Roundabout and Burns Square Improvements were kept in the high priority category.

ENVIRONMENTALISTS, WHAT DO THEY KNOW?

As some of you may remember our fellow property owner Harvey tried on several occasions to get us, the other property owners in the area, to consider environmentally friendly improvements to Burns Square. Improvements such as Sidewalks that breath, thermal heating and cooling and better building products. While I agreed with Harvey 100% because we should recycle, I had little to offer on the subject. I, along with everyone else possibly are just ignorant and being a true environmentalism seemed so complicated, uncertain, difficult and expensive. Everyone settled on the easy options and that was to stick with what we know and not complicate anything especially with a subject no one understood.

Well, first I want to say to Harvey, I hope you accept my apology for allowing everyone to push your ideas aside too quickly. I can also say, thanks to you, I have started to become education on the importance of putting your ideas into our vision. Of course there is the movie Inconvenient Truth...and then at the CNU Conference when I heard a brilliant lecture on mankind destructive behavior on the environment...and then I had the opportunity just a few weeks ago to meet William McDonough and hear his lecture. www.mcdonough.com

Okay....I am on board!

McDonough, architect, is the co-author of the book "Cradle to Cradle" along with Michael Braungart, chemist. A MUST READ!! What I really like about their environmental approach is stated in their book, "We see a world of abundance, not limits. In the midst of a great deal of talk about reducing the human ecological footprint, we offer a different vision. What if humans designed products and systems that celebrated an abundance of human creativity, culture, and productivity? That are so intelligent and safe, our species leaves an ecological footprint to delight in, not lament?" If you have a chance to hear this man talk, then do it but until then, I highly suggest you get the book and read it. I will loan out my copy for anyone who cannot find it.

NEW LIGHTING IN BURNS SQUARE

We are illuminated!! For those that have not noticed, we in Burns Square have new decorative lighting along Orange & Pineapple from Mound to Ringling and some in between. Five years ago the city approved the Burns Square decorative lighting capital improvement. On schedule the city installed the lighting during the beginning of this year, so thank you to the city and contractors for a job well done.


I used the oportunity to decorate the sidewalks around my building with mosaics.


Please come to a Friday night walk that is the first Friday of each month, or to a movie and dinner at one of our cafe's and see how wonderful our area has become for evening strolling.

JOHN MCKINIGHT ABCD COURSE

The City and County partnered to bring John McKnight into town and teach his course on Asset Based Community Development. I strongly suggest attending one of his courses.

I went to Chicago about a year ago and took the course with several others from Sarasota including Michael Raposa from the City of Sarasota's Neighborhood Department who organized the whole thing. There are only a few people that impact your life so drastically that you change the way you do or look at things and Mr. McKnight is one of those talented people.

He has been working with neighborhoods to help improve the role of citizens to create stronger communities and able democracies for decades. His approach is refreshing and clear cut, often using stories to get his lesson heard. The course is usually two or three days long. You can call the Partnership Office at City Hall to find out about the next course being offered locally.

SUMMER VACATIONS

For my summer vacation, I climbed the Grand Teton Mountain!! Talk about putting things into perspective. Rock Climbing is a sport that challenges you not only physically beyond comprehension but also mentally challenges you. It took a day to hike to basecamp were you get to sleep in a tent type hut with 12 other people you do not know. You wake up at 3am to start the climb up the mountain in the dark seeing so many stars that you cannot even find the big dipper that was so clear from the valley. As the sun comes up your view is one that only a few ever see. You make it to the top, something you question from the moment you leave your car, and then you are rushed down before lighting storms roll in threatening your life again. We made it back to our car at 6pm that night. That day was 15 hours of non-stop physical excursion. Cool huh?

Share what you did over the summer.....

BROCHURE for BURNS SQUARE

It has been over two years since the Burns Square brochure was designed so the Burns Square Association is revamping the brochure. They have been actively meeting, rallying memberships and applying for grants to help support the costs that will be around $4,000.00 for 10,000 brochures.

Please contact Melanie Wright with the Wright Look at 529 South Pineapple, Burns Square Association President for information.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Recently the City of Sarasota held a Saturday morning symposium on affordable housing. During the introduction the audience was told that this was not a symposium to discuss what we already know which is housing prices are increasing drastically while wages are not. The audience was also told that this meeting is for people that want to "do" something and not for those that like to say what "they" should be doing because "they" were not in the room today. At the end of the symposium we were directed to fill out a form that stated exactly what we were willing to "do" to help with affordable housing in our city otherwise we would be unable to ever leave City Hall.

Listening to the different organizations and the volunteers express what they do and have to do to get affordable housing for people is truly humbling. I fully admired the work each group is doing to help the people in our community find affordable housing as well as the partnerships and help the City of Sarasota contributes to these organizations. We have a city lead by our commission that is dedicated to affordable housing and should be applauded for their efforts so far. We have groups not only helping families but also the elderly and handicapped.

Ultimately more help is needed and some speakers spoke from their heart saying you have to dig deep in your personal values to ask, "what meaningful can you contribute to help our community with affordable housing."

During the question and answer time, it seemed many people like to discuss the issue or complain about "them" not doing enough or the best statements being, "if "they" only did this". I promised on my slip at the end of the discussion to get someone 18 to register and vote, stay involved in my neighborhood association, drop off donations to the different organizations such as Goodwill, discuss with other property owners in Burns Square about adopting a house to do lawn and light work around a home for the elderly or disabled.

I asked the organizations to supply a list to the city, giving the locations of homes that need assistance, (therefore the money these organizations get can go to providing homes instead of lawn care) so the neighborhood associations could help by each adopting a home.

The list of speakers included Mike Jacobson (Habitat for Humanity & Rebuild Sarasota), Martina Guilfoil (Community Housing Trust), Laura Carter (GoodHomes), Jane Hindall (Office of Housing and Community Development), Carmen Valenti (Sarasota Housing Authority), Charley Richards (Coalition to Assist Supportive Living), Scott Eller (Coastal Renaissance), peter Routsis-Arroyo (Catholic Charities), Christine Filusch (Raymond James & Associates) and the moderator was Jaimie Ross (Affordable Housing Director in Tallahassee).

If you are interested in attending let me know, I think the city will hold another symposium in the near future.

CONGRESS FOR THE NEW URBANISM

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HISTORIC DISTRICT - BURNS SQUARE

Is it just the owners of Burns Square that find it amusing that the Downtown Partnership is organizing to request the City Commission to designate a historic district without including Burns Square?

We have talked with the Partnership a few times about this and they still seem to exclude us. If there is a place the locals call a historic district, it would be Burns Square. Regardless, I think Burns Square should look into this and stay attuned to the Partnerships agenda on this one.