Conference Center Cost

In today's S-H-T, an article about the latest cost estimate for Sarasota's new downtown police station indicates it has increased significantly since the initial estimates were made about 2 years ago.

Todays estimates are $200 to $230 per sq ft, compared to $130 to $150, two years ago. This is an increase of about a little over 50% on a square footage basis.

Applying a similar escalation to the estimated conference center building cost of $55M, shows that today the conference center costs might approach $82M. The original estimate of the conference center cost was developed by CS&L (the consultant) in mid-2003.

Rapidly rising building costs are a factor in Florida and around the country. Any conference center proposal needs to take into consideration todays cost reality.

Duany example of an excellent street.

An Excellent Street

An exerpt from the Downtown Master Plan developed by Andres Duany:

"An excellent frontage is one that provides a high level of positive stimulus and interaction for the pedestrian. Buildings form a continuous edge, generally up against the outer edge of the rightof-way, with large expanses of glass for pedestrians to see what is happening inside, and a constant sense of give-and-take between inside and outside. In an ideal setting, the bay width of the buildings along the street is relatively narrow, with a range and variety of stores, shops and other uses filling these bays. Restaurants and other uses might spill out onto the sidewalk creating open-air cafes, galleries and other attractions. Landscaping is prevalent, but does not dominate the setting, and does not prevent the pedestrian from getting close to the buildings, storefronts and display windows."

The picture (Sarasota's Main St) above is also from the Master Plan and is titled "Example of an excellent street frontage". Note the trees, the covering provided by the awning/gallerie, and lack of an arcade reaching to the curb. It makes for a very inviting street.

A Vision for Sarasota

The conference center proposal and a recent Letter to the Editor in the Sarasota Herald Tribune indicate a gulf between the business community and the residents in Sarasota.

The business community believes that continued development, more visitors and growth are the best of all possible worlds. A conference center, a redeveloped Quay with 3 high rise condos and a large retail complex, another condo just south of the Ritz, a new condo next to the Renaissance, and a boutique hotel near the Renaissance would all add up to a wonderful Sarasota - teeming with money spending visitors.

Many of us question this vision. Is this amount of growth on this short section of US 41 really going to be the answer to our problems? Or will it create a huge new problem that will never be resolved without further bridges and roads?

Save Our Saraosta believes that we need to take a step back and look at the ramifications of the projects already in the pipeline as well as the new changes that will result from the downtown code change.

Do we really understand the seasonality implications of the new condo construction? When will traffic be so bad that our base economic strength, the retirement community, will decide Sarasota is no longer worth the hassle? Can we continue to expect service workers to drive 50+ miles each way to work in face of rapidly rising gasoline costs, because we have not found solutions to the housing cost problems faced by residents and would be residents? Have we invested enough in our infrastructure to handle drinking and waste water problems? Will the water quality of Sarasota Bay decline with the added population and cars?

The answer is not "market forces will take care of it". Many residents subscribe to a vision that would keep Sarasota's small town atmosphere. This is what brought all of us here in the first place. Seemingly uncontrolled growth is not acceptable to many of us. We need to take a step back, address all the issues we face now, then determine how we can manage growth at a level we can all live with.

Former location of the Gold Tree at the 1350 Main construction site.

Crew planting Gold Tree at new location on Gulfstream Ave.

Applause, Applause!

Today a Gold Tree was moved from the construction site of the 1350 Main St project, to a vacant spot along Gulfstream just north of the Main & Gulfstream intersection. While it is not yet known whether this tree will survive, we heartily applaud the effort to make this happen.

Thanks to the City, the Public Works Dept, the Code Enforcement Dept and the developer for efforts to save this tree and find a suitable spot where hopefully it will continue to provide beauty for all to enjoy!

Conference Center on the Bayfront Underwater?

It appears that the City Commissioners have heard the public voices that say the proposed conference center should not be located on public bayfront land. Today, our commissioners indicated that the Cultural District is not the place to put a conference center. We applaud this decision.

This land is one of the last great places in Sarasota. Residents and visitors continue to appreciate the unique characteristics that Sarasota is known for: cultural activities within a beautiful, small town, waterfront community.

Saving our last public waterfront land for all of us to enjoy should be at the top of our elected officials' priority list.

Conference Center Issues

Save Our Sarasota steering committee member, Richard Clapp, participated in a forum at a luncheon meeting of the Downtown Partnership today. Tim Clarke (Chamber of Commerce) and Sharon Cunningham (Convention and Visitors Bureau) also participated. Clarke and Cunningham spoke in favor of the Conference Center proposal, while Clapp spoke against using public dollars to fund the proposed center on public land.

The proposed center would require an increase in the tourist tax to fund the building and use of TIF dollars to fund a parking structure. No private investment is included. The conference center would occupy about 25% of the "Cultural District" land area south of Payne Terminal. This would significantly reduce space available for the identified cultural uses as well as forever destroy one of the few remaining great places in Sarasota.

Clapp pointed out that great cities - Sarasota is a great city as we all know - have a strong "sense of place". Sarasota is well known for its cultural activities and its beautiful waterfront location. The "Cultural District" must enhance our sense of place that is the vision of Sarasota. Covering over this great bayfront property with a building designed for short term, out of town people simple does not make sense. We need to keep our views of the bay open for all to enjoy. This great place needs to be saved, for this is what drew us here originally and will keep visitors coming here if it remains.

Mourners hold a wake on Main St in memory of the Black Olive Tree Family that lived at this spot.

Obituary: Main Street Black Olive Family

The four members of the Black Olive tree family were cut down Thursday, March 11, 2005.

The date of their birth is unknown. They came to Main Street in Sarasota in 1994.

Residents and visitors alike enjoyed their year round green foliage. They softened the streetscape, and provided shade, breezes and lower temperatures. They absorbed rain runoff, cleansed the air and offered nesting space for birds. They were resistant to salty air and winds.

Without pruning, fertilization or watering during the dry seasons, they thrived, and selflessly gave their lush beauty for years. They served their city loyally. They will be missed.

There are no survivors.

A memorial service was held Friday, March 18, 2005 at Palm and Main Streets. Save Our Sarasota was in charge.

Memorial donations may be made to RELEAF, SARASOTA, a not for profit, at 2620 Grafton Street, Sarasota, FL 34231.

Small Town Feeling and Urban Amenities

A city of urban amenities with small town living and feeling is the essence of what we want to preserve, promote, and enhance.

The problem is that urban amenities now are perceived as urban feeling---luxury condos and tall buildings---whereas they really are wonderful museums, vibrant performings arts organizations, unique, one-of-a-kind restaurants and shops, and great public spaces---including beaches, bayfront, and parks of all sizes.

We want urban amenities, not urban feeling and living. Sarasota has always had the reputation of being a small town with the desirable kinds of urban amenities. This combination is the unique character of Sarasota.

Now it is disappearing. SOS works to save the real urban amenities and support responsible, sustainable growth. We oppose the sacrifice of all kinds of public spaces, tree canopy, etc. to runaway growth, subsidized by our tax dollars, which threatens our small town living and feeling while offering us nothing but a signature of concrete and congested city center in return.

Sarasota Issues

Our city faces a number of issues that risk loss of confidence in our leadership as these issues linger.

• The sewage pumping station equipment failures and subsequent communication failures are difficult to understand in today's environment
  
• Constantly increasing traffic in downtown Sarasota with no effective communication of a short or long term plan offering relief, is problematic
  
• The lack of convenient parking downtown is still an issue despite some progress being made
  
• The numerous failures of the Hope VI grant applications for the Janie Poe housing project has focussed attention on Sarasota's poor record in maintaining clean, healthy homes for our very low income residents
  
• Affordable housing has been discussed for a very long time and even though everyone agrees it is a major issue, no progress is being made in addressing it
  
• The Newtown Redevelopment project has languished for lack of funding.
  

Amidst all of these issues, a conference center is being aggressively promoted in Sarasota that would require 100% public funding and be placed on public bayfront land. We do not see the benefit of public investment (with no private investment) in a conference center when faced with these issues. Our priorities seem to be clear.

Tree canopy on Main Street shading sidewalks and parking

High Rise oaks along Main St.

Pictures Worth a 1000 Words?

The pictures above show two views of Main Street. One picture shows a view of toward lower Main with the tree canopy from the black olives shading the sidewalk and providing a memorable sense of place. The other picture shows a view to the east where the City has planted "High Rise"oaks (an oak bred specifically for a non-spreading, column like form) in order to minimize maintenance costs.

We question whether the loss of "sense of place", a shady canopy setting, is worth the savings in maintenance costs. The feeling of a nice, tree shaded downtown, is very different from the sense one gets from walking on the sidewalk next to the High Rise oaks. The High Rise oaks along the sidewalk remind one of cutting across a mall parking lot to get to the indoor stores. Not exactly a memorable downtown "ambience."

A tree canopied Main Street, lined with unique, local businesses makes for a wonderful sense of place that will continue to draw visitors and locals to Sarasota's downtown. Let's build on the assets we have.

About "Save Our Sarasota™"

Our mission is to be a constructive and positive voice for the preservation and enhancement of Sarasota.

Our goals are to preserve, enhance, and promote:

• Sarasota's uniqueness
• Sarasota's ecological, cultural, and historic legacies and distinguished institutions
• Urbanization that respects pedestrian scale and activities
• Ecologically sensitive urban design
• Economically responsible urban development
• Integrity of public management
• Current and new passive and active public places for human enjoyment, responsive to local characteristics (climate, vegetation, landscape, marinescape)
• Affordable housing and necessary support amenities
• Locally owned businesses and affordable commercial space
• New businesses that respond to Sarasota's uniqueness and priorities.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Margaret Mead, American Anthropoligist (1901-1978)

Black olive trees at 1350 Main St, shading parked cars.

1350 Main St after the black olives have been clearcut.

Clearcutting in Downtown Sarasota?

More "progress" on Main Street. To make room for the new mixed use condo building at 1350 Main, it was apparently expedient to remove 3 beautiful black olives that stood in the way. The trees were simply cut down and hauled away.

In their place we are promised an urban setting complete with an arcade that will stretch from the building front to almost the curb. No more room for trees and vegetation. We are saddened by the loss.

But the die has been cast - our new downtown code gives incentives to developers that will include an arcade in their design. There will be no room for trees on an arcade covered sidewalk.

We will also give the developer the public space above the arcade: a 12' width space, the length of the building frontage and 3 stories in height. This giveaway equates to 3600 sq ft of space for every 100 ft of building frontage - the equivalent of two nice size condo units. In today's market this is worth well over $1M, or $10,000 per lineal frontage foot on Main Street. That's a nice incentive for the developer.

The trees? They are gone.