This blog was set up by Denise Kowal, President of the Burns Square Property Owners Association as a tool to help us gather suggestions for our area. Your suggestions will help us with our upcoming charrette scheduled in November, 2005. We are requesting constructive input and ideas that will help us create short term and long term visions for our unique Burns Square area.
For over a year we have been discussing the creation of a plan for our area. Several months ago we each contributed money to hired urban planner Ramon Trias to help us define a vision. Mr. Trias came highly recommended by Andres Duany who the City hired to created the Downtown Sarasota Master Plan 2020. Mr. Trias plans to collaborate with his staff architect Michael Carlson. Mr. Carlson has an office in Burns Square and was a partner in the firm that worked hand in hand with the Duany firm on the Downtown Sarasota Master Plan 2020. We graciously welcome anyone interested in volunteering to help us in this endeavor.
The Burns Square area starts at the intersection of US41/Mound Street and Orange Avenue and runs north on Orange & Pineapple Avenues to Ringling Boulevard including Burns Court/Lane, Rawls Avenue and the cross streets Laurel , Dolphin & Cross. We will be looking at every aspect of our district such as traffic flow, intersections, cross walks, curb cuts, parking and "suggestions" for architectural design. The intention of our plan is not to "police" anyone but create a cooperative vision that can be worked on over the years. We are requesting input from our neighbors, area merchants & professionals, elected officials, City and County staff and anyone else interested in contributing to our process in a positive way.
We look forward to hearing from you and gathering constructive input that we can incorporate into our vision.
Chalk Festival www.avendiadecolores.com
Avenida de Colores "Floralia" May 2-3, contact: Denise Kowal 941-374-4790 for artist, sponsor and voulteer information
AVENIDA DE COLORES "FLORALIA" FESTIVAL - ARTISTS APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED/Volunteers needed
2ND ANNUAL BURNS SQUARE CHALK FESTIVAL - MAY 2 & 3 2009! For Information Contact Denise.kowal@mac.com
27 comments:
What a great idea before the charrette.
Great idea. Here's hoping people use the opportunity constructively.
Welcome to the Sarasota bloggers club!!
Blogging is a great tool just as long as we respect each other... and you fight off the spammers...
Have fun with it!!
Laurel Park is working on having some of the old brick streets exposed and alot of downtown was originally brick. Possibly some of the streets can be redone or expose the original brick, like Burns Court or Pineapple Avenue?
What about cross walks? The traffic on Orange Avenue makes it almost inpossible for people to feel safe crossing the way it is. I am so surprised someone has not been hit on this road. I highly suggest the most important issue is pedestrian safety and we need really good cross walks.
I hope we keep the Short Stop market and find ways to enhance their business because they are an important part of surrounding neighborhoods.
I think the owners of the small properties along Burns Court should consider an overlay for their street or a historic district. This may help preserve the feel of these smaller structures and discourage someone from doing something crazy with one of the lots.
This area has some very important structures that show the history of Sarasota. The homes in Burns Court should be preserved as much as possible and the building at the interestection of Orange and Pineapple with Citrus Cafe. If you could set some design standards that people could use as a guidelines or suggestions when redoing their property so that the area can enhance the designs everyone loves so much.
Dr. Kaltsas brought up some good points that should be considered when planning this area.
I would like to see more trees planted that will create a canopy down Orange Avenue. Maybe something a little different down Pineapple like Royal Palms or lower bushes so awnings can cover the side walks for the stores.
A parking garage on the west side of Orange or on Pineapple would be much better than on the east side of Orange Avenue which is so dangerous to cross even with cross walks.
Every shop in Burns Square has signs that say "WE NEED PARKING". This has been such a long request and the city does not seem to get it. We are dying because people do not even bother to come since they can never find parking. I know summer is differend downtown but in the winter we really get hurt because of no parking and this is the time we should be gathering our nuts. Can we support the city buying the Dolphin lot so this can be done. Why are they not talking about that anymore?
RAISED CROSS WALKS!!
There needs to be cross walks at the intersection of Oak/Orange, Oak/Pineapple, Selby/Pinapple, Laurel/Pinapple, Laurel/Orange, Dolphin/Pineapple, Dolphin/Orange, Mound/Orange and how do we get people across Orange around Alderman? All these streets are too fast and dangerous and the cross walks will help slow down traffic. They should also be slightly raised, something that will really slow the traffic down.
The area needs more trees to create shade for our hot summer and winter days. The area would be beautiful with a canopy over some of the road. Can we plant mature trees, big ones so that the people alive today could enjoy them?
And...new sidewalks would be wonderful as well. They are all so uneven and just ugly in some area. What about some cool designs in the cement or something that make the area different when you are walking in it. Possibly brick sidewalks or something that really stands out.
How about making a deal with the County to use the property at Cross and Orange where the County Printing Department is for a parking garage. It could be several stories high, could contain some ground floor stores or offices [or not], and could even contain the printing department. Certainly cheaper to work a deal with the County than to purchase the old Serbin property plus having to demolish a recently rennovated and updated building, plus buying out all of the commercial leases. The old furniture store (County Bldg.) needs repairs, which is like throwing good money after bad.
What about the open lot behind the U S Garage for a parking structure for the area. Then people will be closer to the stores on Pineapple. The locations on Orange are just too far away and people will not use them as much. If Michael Saunders allows parking on the south portion of her property, then that may be a consideration. Since she basically killed the parking deal the city had for us, is she committed to providing us parking like she said she would consider?
A parking structure needs to be on the west side of Orange because Orange Avenue is just so fast and far away from Pineapple and Burns Court Cinema. We really need the parking convenient for the Cinema because they draw so much business to our area and we need recognize that. Parking on the county lots or further north on Orange would be fine but not the best choice.
We need a parking garage but we just do not any place to put one that is convenient for Pineapple Avenue. The best option so far is the location on Dolphin because that is in the middle of everything. Is that still being purchased by the city or what? It is not like we have alot to choose from so they cannot be picky and stand by for a better location. What about the Women's Exchange doing something that makes more parking for the area? Or Michael Saunders agreement with the city? How come after all these years the city is still looking and not acting?
The best place for a parking garage is on the corner of Ringling and Pineapple where the old "gas station/dry cleaners" were located. The amount of money to comply with the EPA is very little , it and would also be most economical for the City. It would be beautifying the corner which is needed badly and serve at least part of the parking problem. I realize it would be limited to the amount of spaces but it would help accomplish 2 things that are needed.
The site at the corner of Ringling and Pineapple (Old Dry Cleaners) has been purchased by a couple from Chicago and they are planning on developing the site. This location is not available for a parking structure.
I will be attending the workshop for the surrounding neighborhoods November 4th from 4-6pm. I am very concerned about the lack of parking for the area and the inability of the city commission to stay committed to finding a solution to the problem. The Dolphin lot was a sound choice since it kept it away from Laurel Park and from everyone is stating there is enough money collected through the TIF to pay for it. Now Laurel Park is threatened at the parking being in the Michael Saunders building that could produce more traffic through the neighborhood instead of keeping it in the business area. How can they say the Dolphin lot was too expensive because how can you place a figure on the economy and vitality of a business area or the relief it will give to the surrounding residential neighborhoods. I am so disappointed they caved in and have not actively pursued the purchase of Dolphin for Burns Square. I want to attend the workshop to make sure this huge problem is addressed. All the surrounding neighborhoods should be supporting this effort for this area.
Can we brick the entire district?
I want to first thank all the property owners for taking the time to work to improve the neighborhood. Bravo to you all!
I would very much like to see the character of the area enhanced. I really like the older structures and their simplicity in style. I am not a big fan of the new Mediterranean style plastered all over the county but if you could enhance the original styles it would be great. As for the pedestrian experience, the area needs good lighting and much better sidewalks. This is a historic district and it should look like that with something other than plane cement side walks
The post at 10:57 was deleted because it contained many statements that were not suggestions to improve the area.
They did suggest keeping the structures to 5 stories in height.
The parking and the safety crossing the streets are probably the two things I feel are the most important for this area. I like all the restaurants in this area and some of the shops are great. The Cinema is a staple and necessity to the area. I would say the shopping is sort of spread apart and that is somewhat difficult. There needs to be only retail along the streets and the businesses that do not create foot traffic should move to second floor offices.
Post a Comment