Good Morning Dick:
I wanted to respond to your comments about Burns Square considering a model such as St. Armands LMR. I feel we are on that path with the recent formation of the Burns Square Residents Alliance. We now have a PMR for Burns Square (property owners, merchants and residents) and I have faith we will continue to work well together.
I going to reach and say this is not exactly your intended suggestion and possibly feel our PMR should include, well, I am not exactly sure. I will make the assumption you feel it should include all the surrounding areas to the North, East, South and West. I disagree to some extent because you are asking us to do something different than St. Armands model but I will address your 'consensus' comments in another email at another time. Regardless, we would welcome those not in our PMR to the table, just as the LMR does.
As you know St. Armands LMR is just St. Armands, which makes sense because those are the direct stakeholders. It does not include Lido or Coon Key but I am sure they are listened too but their voice is not a part of the LMR the city so relies upon.
St. Armands circle itself is not a mixed use area either which Burns Square is. We have had that wonderful mix of residential and commercial since the first building was built. We are also historically within the dense city boundaries and do not seek to impose beyond our boundaries into our neighboring communities. We wish to be sustainable by being compact, dense and cozy within our zoning area and rights. We want improvements that support our rights to be vibrant.
The new president of the residents group, prior to the formation stated the following:
Hi Denise, As you may know I was just re-elected to the board of Burn’s Court Villa’s Association and will be representing all 23 owners. My residents are getting more and more concerned with the lack of cooperation from not only the City of Sarasota
Burns Square is also very far away from the build-out and financial success of St. Armands. They are successful for a number of reasons. The main one is the continual storefronts throughout, creating that walking experience so talked about in New Urbanism, something we do not have in Burns Square but strive for. You seem to think they are improving, I sort of agree and disagree. The St. Armands I remember was like a Rodeo Drive and not infested with T-shirt and Trinket stores or cheap replicas of art and canned music. I think John Ringling would be horrified. Regardless of what is tasteful in one's eye, I do know if they could do it over, they would follow Burns Square model and worked on a Master Plan prior to any improvements they did. That they regret to this day because improvements were done that were not well thought out, such as the current intersection in front of my building.
Lastly, we are open to a facilitator from the city as you suggested.
Fondly, Denise Kowal, President
Burns Square Property Owners Association
Richard Clapp Wrote May 23, 2008 EXCERPT:
As you know, St Armands has a well functioning association of landowners merchants and residents (LMR Group). While each of the separate groups has their own considerations, they have a common vision for St Armands. They meet regularly (with a city facilitator) and make progress. One of their sacred principles is that none of the members will make changes without the knowledge and input from the other members. They realize that they all need to be together for the success of everyone. They also realize the value of a neutral facilitator to keep the discussion fair and within proper bounds. This group has worked well over the last 8 years or so.
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