Bob Ardren, in the Pelican Press, says that a good chunk of downtown’s soul may be priced at $17.1M. Apparently this is what the Isaac group is offering the First Methodist Church for the land they now occupy on Pineapple. The Methodists would be sent to the cultural desert of North Tuttle if they take the cash. Their soul would follow along.
Fortunately, the Methodists will take their time before making such a momentous decision. Originally it was reported a decision would be made near the end of April. No timetable has been reported now. Of course the Isaacs say that time is of the essence, if they don’t grab the coveted majordomo retailers, they will likely end up in Lakewood Ranch. Obviously, our loss.
Ten stories of jingling cash registers, the latest fashions and more condo speculator frenzy don’t quite make up for the loss of the quiet, contemplative place that First Methodist has provided for many, many years. We hope for the best. The Methodists will make the decision that is best for them. That is the way it should be. We may lose part of the downtown soul, but we know that the Methodists will carry on.
See the Apr 7 blog for more on this.
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Is Laurel Park worth saving? Of course it is. Unfortunately, the city of Sarasota together with a few will meaning folks do not understand that the Laurel Park they describe will disappear regardless of any proposed changes in the land use and development standards. It is interesting when they use words like "charming" and "deep historical overtones" to describe the physical environment. The reality is that due to the fact that single family homes and only single family homes can be developed in Laurel Park will determine the ultimate fate of the neighborhood. No small apartment buildings (2-3 stories, 4-8 units), no row houses (attached maintenance free living units) no bed & breakfasts, no living and working out of the same building, and certainly, no mixed-use. It is not difficult to conclude that when you limit the use of the land and the land is scarce, the price goes up exponetially. If one was to look at the decade of the 1920's when Laurel Park was born, there was a real estate boom with "speculators" and developers everywhere. In fact, Owen Burns was the most prolific developer of the times. His projects are reverred today. How sad they cannot be reproduced. Planner and economists all recognize that when you limit the supply of something (i.e. density) and the demand is great (location, location,location) the price increasaes. This happens everyday in this country with every type of commidity. Ignoring the problem and assuming it will go away will not change the result. Larger, more expensive homes (McMansions). On the other hand, if you allowed for a variety of building types, including small urban lofts (700-900 sf), single family homes on smaller lots (which requires smaller designs), attached housing and live/work opportunites, maybe, just maybe, you create an environment for several different folks at different income levels and different phases of their lives to create a real "neighborhood". Regulating "charm" sounds easy. In fact, the goal should be allow for a range of building types, densities, and uses instead of a monoculture of exclusive multimillion dollar homes. Great neighborhoods everywhere realize this fact and put in place very strict design standards that work to create and and maintain a sense of place based upon a shared vision or goal. If the goal is to hang on to the past without a regulating plan that defines the future, you will fail. Comparing Laurel Park to Burns Court and Towles Court is difficult at best. Considering both neighborhoods allow for mixed-use, Laurel Park's current land use and zoning should be compared with a typical pod of exclusive single family homes in Lakewood Ranch. Removing one of the first two neighborhoods created when the city was platted is like tearing the heart of a healthy patient. The logic of somehow building an imaginary wall around this historic downtown urban neighborhood and pretending it is not physically connected to the core (the patient) is doing more harm than can be realized until its too late. If the city leaders do not wake up and fold this small pocket of history back into the urban fabric, it will take decades to undo the damage. Applying a "standardized" new urbanist code to an obvious old urban area is the only logical solution. Otherwise, the entire city loses when if the island is left to fend for itself as the city grows up around it.
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