Portraying the Future

Today’s SHT has a great article about arcades and downtown Sarasota.

Although the reporter (Mike Saewitz) portrays the issue as a community conflict with a cast of opposing characters, Save Our Sarasota is a grass roots organization interested in making Sarasota a really great small city. We realize that there are those in the development community that share the same objective. Maybe what makes us different is that Save Our Sarasota tries to be community inclusive, looking at the common good. Others may lean more toward the "special interest" end of the spectrum. (We know that there are those that would portray us a just another "special interest", none the less, we keep trying).

Developers always show pretty pictures of what their project will look like when it is finished. They always use the "dreamscape" approach. They like to show nice looking people having a wonderful time in a dream like place. Reality however is always quite different.

Consider the Pineapple Square proposal Sarasota is currently considering. Notice how the 10 or 11 story hi-rise portion of the proposal fades into the background, whereas the much lower portion next to the sidewalk is prominently shown with happy people.

Or consider the Plaza at Five Points. The building height is minimized by the chosen view. This is nothing like the looming building that is about to open its doors.



Reality is different than dreamscapes.

While we cannot exactly picture the future buildout of downtown Sarasota, the reality is likely to be much closer to the rendition we have pictured below, than the dreamscapes that developers portray.

Apparently the developers do not like others using the same tools they use when showing a vision for the future. Bruce Franklin is quoted in the article:

[This] "lacks absolute credibility," especially with tricks such as the doctored photo.

Franklin and other developers commonly use fanciful dreamscapes to hide the cold reality of their project. We have shown the cold reality of the potential of allowing arcades over public sidewalks and giving the space above the arcades to developers as an incentive.

We fully understand it is not a pretty picture.

"Only if portions of Sarasota County are kept natural will future generations get to know and love a place of great character and beauty."

This endorsement comes from today's SHT editorial.

A related editorial makes a good case for arguing that land for affordable housing and saving environmentally sensitive land or urban park land are not mutually exclusive.

The Pelican Press also concurs, saying:

"Just as that beachfront bungalow is no longer within financial reach of the average resident, these sensitive lands are now threatened by increasing encroachment of development and rising land prices. The county needs to act swiftly to purchase and protect as much desirable property as possible before it disappears into new developments."

Save Our Sarasota also urges all county voters to go to the polls on Nov 8 (early voting is currently underway), and vote YES, YES. One Yes vote extends the current tax referendum for 10 years; the second YES vote allows some of the funds to be used for urban park land purchase.

For more information visit the Sarasota County Forever website.

[Picture is from the Sarasota County Forever website]

Conversations With Ken

Commissioner Ken Shelin hosted a couple forums today - "What are the possibilities for assuring accountability in the City of Sarasota government?"

About 20 people attended the morning session and about 35 in the afternoon.

Keith Fitzgerald, New College Political Professor facilitated the afternoon session - the one I attended.

Attendees were primarily active members of the community that have a high level of commitment to our city.

The starting premise was that there is much discontent within Sarasota about how our city works. The attendees were asked to think about the questions:

• What is the next step for making things better?
• What are the problems?
• What kind of solutions are possible?

A variety of issues and possible solutions were discussed. A common theme was the lack of discussion forums, "Town Hall" type gatherings to discuss vision, issues and solutions in an informal way (less "threatening" than a public hearing on TV).

I posted a more complete summary on Suncoast Blog.

Another session will be held on Sunday, Oct 30 at Sudakoff from 2-4 PM. If you are interested let Ken know.

Notes From Tiger Bay Meeting: Affordable Housing

The Sarasota Tiger Bay Club Topic: "We are being priced out of home ownership and rental housing!"

Moderator: Marge Baldwin

Panel: Jody Hudgins, Banker and County Planning Commissioner
Dr. John McGruder, Jr., S.U.R.E. (Sarasota United for Responsibility and Equity)
Jud Boedecker, Builder/Attorney-Southwest Florida Homes
Mike Jacobson, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity.

Jud wished there would be a twelve mo. moratorium on new land use regulations. He thinks the reason for not building affordable housing is lack of land. He's seen the imbalance in pricing happen over the last four years. This should be our number one community priority. Tough decisions will have to be made. Compromises on the environment will have to be made.

Mike asked "what does affordable mean?" Without a definition all agree on nothing will get done. With more density, builders could build smaller, lower priced units.

Jody said the City has done a great job. Compare it to downtown Bradenton or downtown Ft. Myers. To get density into the county you have to make sure infrastructure is there, and that growth is compatible with the neighborhood. The cost of land is being driven up.

Jud said density is a bad word in this community but it can prevent sprawl and provide workforce housing.

Jody suggested that density by itself is not the panacea for affordable housing.

Jud thinks the county has the tool box to solve this problem. He is proudly a for-profit builder of single homes. Developers need to be offered mild incentives like rezoning for higher density, give overlay districts for workforce housing and affordable housing. We (the developer) would make sure infrastructure is in place.

John put on the table that there's another important issue besides land (and density) and that's providing living wages to workers.

Questioner reminded all that this community depends on service people. They can't be put out east. Some don't have transportation. Where are the plans for service people?

Jud noted that in Jacksonville, land is given to builders like Habitat for Humanity. The city gives land for $1 (a year?)

Mike is aware of Jacksonville's policies and thinks that there is the political will, the problem is clear to them (unlike here, I presume). We are talking about folks who live in the city making less than $24,000. Workforce housing isn't sexy. The sucking noise you are hearing are the people leaving. Why don't you put together a panel of Habitat owners. Meet the working poor, single moms.

John says that Habitat is no longer the model to follow. Habitat homes can be flipped. We want perpetual affordability. Even in the Housing Trust fund which is great, only 30% of it goes to those making 60% of the median income or less. Most of the money goes to the high end. Keep in mind that Sarasota is way below average for acceptance of diversity. The poor need to live in town.

Marge read from a 2003 City resolution which requested more affordability. It was a plea then. Even more urgent now.

Jody said in 1999, he, Joe Barbetta and another sat on a blue ribbon panel re: affordable housing. The County has dedicated staff and will. The Community Housing Trust of Sarasota County is considering workforce overlay district. It's been in existence for two months and is already a model. Pappas is the chair. Money for the project coming from selling lots in North Port. There's a plan to build 3,000 homes in 10 years.

Marge replied, but, we need them now. That isn't nearly enough. Jody responded that new land requirements require affordable housing must be included.

Marge wanted to know where City TIF money will go. Jud replied that City has been asked to participate.

Mike acknowledged (to John) that Habitat has to make changes. They've built 250,000 homes across the country. Now they are looking for a blending of paradigms. Just building a house for a family and handing them the keys isn't enough.

Marge wanted to know when someone applies, do you screen that person?

Mike said families have to show the ability to pay for their home. We don't see this as a handout but rather a hand up. Habitat has built 150 houses in Sarasota in the past 20 yrs and only a few have changed hands.

John is glad that the city and county are aware finally that affordable housing is missing and that that's a problem. TIF is a real possibility for providing funds. CRAAB is made up of developers. Look where TIF money has gone downtown - to high end projects like Whole Foods and the Herald Tribune. $20 million already spent on development downtown. If Newtown becomes a TIF CRA, please don't spend it in Newtown as it has been spent downtown.

Jody noted that 90% of Sarasota households make less than $80,0000.

Jud challenged - let's create it rather than preserve it. Home ownership gets folks out of lower class with their ability to build equity. A housing trust will take that away from them. Questions: Let's hear from the no growth people. Sounds like affordable housing has to come from the government (not his preference).

Mike jumped in - give 2 to 4 acres, we'd bring in volunteers and show you what's possible. Homes would be put up you'd be proud of to dispel the nimby reaction. Jody says that the county owns most of the land in Sarasota County. Sensitive lands are out - not developable anyway. It's a goal in the comp plan to preserve these lands.

Jud suggested the room is filled with well intentioned people who want to keep the well being of the community intact.

John asked "what can we do?" I'm looking for a few heroes. Let's get a fund together of $1 million dollars for affordable housing to seed the endeavor.

Questioner responded that service people can't live here and businesses needing service people cannot stay. She knows of several businesses that have closed and moved north. People who make $7 to $10 an hr can't afford to live here and Habitat can't cover the thousands in need.

John reminded everyone that we need more rental units and that the landlords need help. (Always we are discussing single home ownership when that doesn't fit for a lot of people, singles, retired, single mothers, etc.

Mike offered that Habitat is branching out into building duplexes, triplexes and rental apartment buildings. This is the next generation. Next questioner urged everyone to contact the legislature and tell them to keep the fund created ten years ago - the Housing Trust Fund which gets money from doc stamp tax. Money is given for rental and mortgage assistance. Help keep the Sadowski Trust Fund.

Another questioner likes the free market. He pays his maid $20 an hour. He says she bought a home in Sarasota County for $200,000. (You do the math.)

Marge used the old saw but if wages go up, then the price of products and services go up. Hasn't killed off popular places, someone quipped.

Jud wanted to know what John considered a living wage. Would it be $15 to $20.

John countered that yes, that would be a start. He also noted that greed is alive and well. Economics will not solve this problem. We have no controls on flipping. Speculators are driving up prices.

Jud acknowledged that a living wage won't buy a person a home here.

Another questioner wanted to know where will Sarasota be in ten years? Still discussing this problem? Everything he has heard so far are only band aid solutions.

Someone mentioned that those of us who have been here a while and own homes have seen our values goes three fold, all fine and good, but what about everyone else!

John thinks funding must come from many sources. It's a moral issue above all else to his mind. It will take the whole community to do something. Action is absolutely missing.

Jody thinks inclusionary funding is the key. He thinks the community housing trust can include rentals.

Jud sees this as a community-wide responsibility.

Mike wants a long term solution, getting all the stakeholders together.

Let's put a stake in the ground and start the momentum urged Mike.

Marge summed up: I think everyone is concerned. Let's start now. There has to be money out there. The City makes millions and contributes not a nickel to affordable housing.

John as a postscript recommended the city and county work with Manatee and Charlotte in a broad way to deal with affordable housing.

Submitted by Jude Levy.

Gardening for Wildlife Tour

Gardening for Wildlife Homescape Tour

November 19, 2005 — 10:00 to 4:00

Eight private yards in Sarasota, Osprey, Venice and Englewood

Added attraction: several public demonstration gardens

Eight Sarasota County gardeners will open their yards on Saturday, November 19 from 10:00 until 4:00 for the first ever Gardening for Wildlife Homescape Tour.

Organizer, Laurel Schiller says the tour will highlight successful homescapes specially designed to attract birds, butterflies and other wildlife.

The tour is a partnership with local environmental groups and will also include demonstration wildlife gardens at county and state parks, The Sarasota Garden Club Butterfly Garden maintained by the Sarasota Butterfly Club, Spanish Point Butterfly Garden, The Florida House Learning Center, local native plant nurseries and more. The event is open to the public; families with children are most welcome. Visitors can start the tour at any of the locations where they’ll be provided a free map of all the participating sites.

Additional information, including "how to" advice and the Real Florida Gardener’s Guide, will be available. A donation of $10 per carload is requested. All proceeds will be divided evenly among the sponsoring not-for-profit organizations—the Audubon Society, Sierra Club, Florida Native Plant Society, ReLeaf Sarasota, Sarasota Butterfly Club, and Lemon Bay Nature Conservancy.

Home gardeners and the sponsors arranged in north to south order are:

• Bill Lewis, 3221 Tobero Lane, Sarasota—Sierra Club
• Dan Walton, 2564 Colorado St., Sarasota—Sarasota Butterfly Club
• Ed Freeman, 723 Goodrich Ave., Sarasota—Florida Native Plant Society
• Ellen Maloff, 2620 Grafton St., Sarasota—ReLEAF Sarasota
• Jon Thaxton, 2046 Cordes St., Osprey (Sarasota Audubon)
• Laurel Schiller, 405 Armada Rd. S., Venice—Florida Native Plant Society
• Karl Hallsten, 940 Everest Rd., South Venice—Venice Audubon
• Jack Taylor, 1932 Allen St., Englewood—Lemon Bay Nature ConservancyTicketsAvailable at each site on the day of event.

No advance sales. For additional information call Laurel Schiller At Florida Native Plant Nursery at 941-322-1915 or email her at scrubisme@comcast.net

(Zebra Longwing and firebush - NSIS)

Paradise Slipping Away?

The division of county government that is responsible for managing growth within Collier County is having problems hiring new employees because the growth that’s occurring is making the price of homes too expensive for them to live here.

As of this past week, the Collier County Community Development and Environmental Services department had 25 vacancies.

"Quite frankly, I’m having a difficult time trying to get people on board," said Joe Schmitt, administrator of community development, when asked about open positions in his department.
Job candidates "come down here, and all of the sudden it’s shell-shock when they look at the
cost of housing," he said.

So goes the story in the Naples News.

Those of us living in Sarasota aren’t the only ones with affordable housing problems.

A related Naples story says:

A growing river of teachers, law enforcement officers, health-care workers and service personnel are quitting their jobs, cashing out on historic home profits and trickling out of Collier County to less-expensive, less traffic-congested turf.

And their exodus is leaving businesses in a bind, officials say.

"We have seen more people in the last 12 months who have relocated out of the area because they could make a nice profit (selling their home)," said Brian Settle, human resources director for NCH Healthcare System. "They are physical therapists, nurses, clerical support and administrative staff."

On top of that, their would-be replacements are increasingly turning down job offers because they cannot afford to buy homes in Collier County.

The labor shortage crosses all industries.

Collier County government has 200 openings. The Collier Sheriff’s Office has 100 openings. Within the next two years, the School District will need 700 new teachers to staff new schools.

The affordable housing shortage today is estimated at 31,000 units, said Cormac Giblin, housing and grants manager for Collier County government.

The Sarasota picture is much the same. Employers cannot find new employees because they cannot afford to live here, current employees are looking at greener pastures.

Maybe we have reached a limit. Working people can’t afford to buy a home, so they won’t move here. Those that have recently bought a house in North Port (or similar "bedroom community") because it was affordable now face $3 gas prices for their long commutes. All of us face increasing threats of hurricanes and red tide.

Maybe this isn’t paradise any more.

Action, Inaction and Reaction

There are three pointed articles referenced in Planetizen.

The first is an editorial in the Palm Beach Post concerning the New Urbanist project to advise on planning for the Gulf Coast rebuilding after Katrina. The editorial gives insight into the current state of West Palm’s satisfaction with their 10 year old downtown master plan developed by Andres Duany:

The governor of Mississippi, Haley Barbour, has turned to Miami architect Andres Duany to lead the rebuilding of Gulf Coast communities destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The mayor of West Palm Beach, Lois Frankel, has turned to Miami architect Bernard Zyscovich to undo the work of Mr. Duany, whose firm wrote the city's downtown plan more than 10 years ago.

Mayor Frankel probably would dispute the line at the beginning of this column accusing her of trying to undo Mr. Duany's successful downtown master plan. There's too much political peril if she is viewed as too closely aligned with developers who want to gut the code.

Mr. Zyscovich and Mayor Frankel are correct when they say that Mr. Duany's plan did not anticipate builders buying and leveling whole blocks under standards aimed at reviving vacant niches.

Mr. Duany argued that the old downtown code had to be ripped up, for which Mr. Zyscovich — in an Oct. 5 session with city commissioners — mocked him. The ripping was really aimed at ending a system that allowed developers to negotiate height and building form. That's what they mean when they say the old plan had no predictability. Mr. Zyscovich confused predictability with monotony. The system had been so flexible that a few big waterfront buildings absorbed downtown's tenants, leaving vacant buildings and lots in the downtown core. Predictability aimed to restore balance but couldn't eliminate bad architecture. Neither approach can claim to do that.

In an article discussing New York, Over-development: Planning, Not Rezoning, Is The Answer, we read:

The real problem with downzoning to stop overdevelopment, or upzoning to encourage development, is that they both avoid any serious planning, both in each neighborhood and in the city as a whole. They don’t allow local residents and businesses to address serious concerns they have with everything from housing needs to traffic, because zoning regulations are limited to use and density controls.

From the LA Times is a story about voter recall of elected officials that continue on a growth path that residents do not appreciate:

Inland Voters Use Recall as a Way to Slow Growth

But the swarms of newcomers, and the traffic and crowding that follow them, have ignited pockets of rebellion.

Recall supporters in Muscoy followed the lead of outraged residents in Murrieta, where voters last spring ousted the pro-growth mayor in the city's first-ever recall. Residents of Palm Springs, Temecula, Redlands and Norco also have skirmished recently with elected officials or developers over growth.

The city's unbridled growth so infuriated a group of activist residents that they recalled Mayor Jack van Haaster in May, and nearly booted Councilman Kelly Seyarto.

"The residents found [they] couldn't relax for a second or somebody stuck in a project on you," said attorney Ed Faunce, a former spokesman for Rescue Murrieta, the recall group that sought to address the problem of snarled roads and safeguard open space.

Sarasota is not the only place with growth issues. Similar issues are apparent throughout the country

Developers pushing the envelope on trying to make the maximum return at the expense of community; zoning that controls density and makes the development process "predictable" at the expense of uniqueness and sense of place; planning that listens primarily to the "wants" of developers with disregard for community input; a downtown master plan that was a good example of community planning was gutted when the plan was translated into zoning code - particularly the Burns Square decision to throw out all the community planning effort that had preceded.

As Sarasota continues to change rapidly, we see more and more frustration from citizens and civic groups, and in media stories and editorials with an inability to act on the basis of community vision. The voices of the citizens are growing louder. They deserve to and must be heard.

Architectural Vision

The recent Sarasota Manatee Business Magazine has an article about "the new architects."

The architects interviewed believe density, affordability and sustainability are as important as aesthetics. It is also noted that this group does not favor more Mediterranean Revival.

Some comments from the article:

Eva Schone (Carl Abbott): favorite commercial building is the new Sarasota Herald-Tribune building on Main. "I hope we’re going to look like a 21st century area and not a duplication of a romanticized past."

Javi Suarez (ADP Group): would like "Sarasota architecture to have a charm of its own, a more contemporary style, something that talks about the here and now, and uses climate in design". Favorite building is the Center for Digestive Diseases on the South Trail.

Cathy Maurer (Bowen Architecture): her vision for Sarasota "That development would slow down. Its going to be a real problem in the future.

Arif Abdulla (TOTeMs): Favorite building is the historic Court House on Main. Vision for Sarasota is that we have plurality. That we not adhere to one style. That we have public involvement and we incorporate green design.

We all know of Sarasota's renown for the "Sarasota School of Architecture". We have all heard the complaints about the over use of Med Rev.

A recent SHT article told the story of Guy Peterson's latest design, the Girl Scouts of the Gulfcoast's new headquarters. This picture is from that article (Rod Millington photo).

Sarasota has a diverse architectural group and many new commercial and residential buildings are showing great distinction. These architects are building on our past and the newest members are continuing the tradition.



Here's a personal favorite on in the downtown scene - the Dale Park's designed bus transfer station. After all the discussion and controversy before construction, now we can see the result of excellent design connected with a unique vision.

We applaud the uniqueness and diverse vision these architects are bringing to our community.

Forum Postponed

The following forum described in our Oct 17 posting, has been postponed due to weather uncertainties.

“GULF OF MEXICO: TOILET OR TREASURE?”
Saturday, October 22,
1 p.m.Selby Library Auditorium

Looking Back to See What's Coming Our Way

Sometimes you look back over your shoulder to see what's coming. Are you being overtaken by something or someone?

Jeff LaHurd's recent guest column in the SHT takes a look back. He looks at Sarasota's history and our close relationship with land speculation and real estate booms.

Recently this relationship has intensified and rapid, major changes are overcoming our town. LaHurd likens this to a tidal wave swamping our quality of life.

We couldn't agree more with his perspective and view. The climate has certainly changed. With it have come high rises and high housing prices. Hotels and apartments convert to condos and traffic increases. More concrete, less open space, less public space, less green space, less access to the bay and gulf.

Stories appear in the paper about long time residents getting fed up with the changes; their solution is to sell and move to a smaller town elsewhere. Polls indicate that city commissioners aren't listening.

LaHurd says: Today's boom makes the others in our past look like whitecaps compared to a tidal wave. Not only has the face of a once beautiful community been marred, like a face-lift gone horribly wrong, but also, as Herald-Tribune reporter Doug Sword's article indicates, the quality of our lives here has suffered. As he put it, "Paradise ain't what it used to be."

Residents have clearly identified what the issues are - runaway growth that is compromising our quality of life. City leaders apparently are unable to affect any change. They have heard many voices making the same case. Individual citizens, civic groups, neighborhood associations, business people, newspapers all have the same message - Sarasota is changing too fast and we don't like it.

The question is, what are our leaders doing about this?

LaHurd ends his column with a quote from Mary Freeman's 1957 article in The Nation: "We can still take things in hand ... but the citizens must make a more intelligent and louder noise than the speculator, otherwise, he'll destroy all our unique assets ... in an effort to reproduce Miami."

Apparently this is still true in Sarasota. The citizens are speaking in louder and louder voices. Will our leaders hear? Will they respond? Or are we doomed by the ever growing tidal wave of development and speculators?

Jeff LaHurd says: unfortunately the "intelligent noise" of Sarasota's citizens was drowned out by the roar of a tidal wave.

Future Vision

Here is a photo of Main looking west from the intersection of Orange.

Here's a rendering of the future view from this same spot.

What's different? In the future view we see the effect of our new Downtown Code. We have 10 story buildings with the option of an arcade over the sidewalk that has 3 stories of habitable space above it.

Do you get the feeling you are in a canyon? How much sky is lost? Where are the trees? Does this look pedestrian friendly? Does it approach a "human scale?"

How does this compare to the original vision from our Downtown Master Plan?

Here's that vision as presented by Duany (different view, this is from Main and Palm looking east).

Again, what's different there? First there are no arcades out to the edge of the sidewalk, second there is a step back at the fourth story of the building and third there are trees and awnings. The lack of arcades and the fourth story step back significantly reduces the canyon effect and allows more light. The presence of awnings and trees provides much needed visual diversity - the scene is softened and less harsh. The streetscape is closer to a human scale and presents a much more inviting and friendly feeling.

We think the city planners and decision makers will make a big mistake if they continue to allow the option of including arcades either with or without habitable space above the sidewalk. We need the sidewalk space for air, light and trees. Trees and awnings provide adequate protection from harsh sun and rain when present. During winter months the warmth from the sun is welcomed by pedestrians. Most importantly the human scale of trees and awnings enhance the pedestrian experience.

We urge our city planners and decision makers to remove the arcade option from the downtown code.

SOS Speaks to Common Cause

Recently Save Our Sarasota spoke to the Sarasota members of Common Cause.

What does Common Cause do? From their website:

Common Cause works with our members and activists and in coalition with other advocacy organizations to make government more accountable to the people. We have been engaged in a wide range of issues for more than thirty years, succeeding in many reforms and today keeping up the fight to make government open and accountable.

Janice Green and Dick Clapp spoke to the group about the history of Save Our Sarasota and the organization's goals.

Current issues were discussed including arcades (see the Oct 13 posting, "Future Vision") and downtown Sarasota:

• arcades can result in the potential give away of public space above sidewalks, the value of this approaches several million dollars for each side of a block that has arcades
• arcades magnify the canyon effect that will already be a problem as we get closer to build out with ten story buildings,
• issues of tree loss in general and additional loss resulting from arcades eliminating space for trees and light required for growth
• design issues and the need for models to show the impact of all new downtown projects was also covered.
• potential give away of public space (one block of state Street) in the Pineapple Square development

If you know of an organization that would like to learn more about Save Our Sarasota and the issues that we consider important for Sarasota's future please contact us. We are willing and happy to share our story.

Save Our Sarasota : saveoursarasota@comcast.net

JibJab's Latest

Most of you have probably seen the JibJab cartoons, featuring singing and dancing heads along with a dose of political and social satire.


Their latest takes a poke at our Big Box lifestyle.

Public Forum on Red Tide and the Dead Zone

“GULF OF MEXICO: TOILET OR TREASURE?”

Saturday, October 22, 1 p.m.
Selby Library Auditorium

The community is invited to a free forum on the Gulf’s RED TIDE and DEAD ZONE.

The panel will include:

Frank Muller-Karger, Ph.D., Commissioner, U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and professor of Biological Oceanography at the University of South Florida. He recently spoke at the Gulf Alliance Conference at Mote.

Larry Brand, Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. He is currently professor of Marine Biology and Fisheries at the University of Miami. His recent research includes sampling the water quality at Piney Point.

Captain Wayne Genthner has been fishing Sarasota and Manatee waters for 25 years. It is his first-hand observations of the dead zone that shocked the community into realizing the recent and dramatic deterioration of water quality in the Gulf.

Laurel Schiller has degrees in wildlife biology and ecology. She devotes herself to preserving the local natural environment and is co-owner of a native plant nursery. She is also a member of the Sarasota County Planning Board.

Brief presentations will be followed by questions and answers.

Resource handouts will be available. Contact lists to write and call to create action will be provided.

(The Library asks that attendees park on the boundary streets or at the Whole Food public lot.)

Sponsored by the Healthy Gulf Coalition.

For more information, please call Don Chaney at (941) 906-8176 or email: dlc100@comcast.net.

Environmentally Sensitive Lands and Neighborhood Parkland

We at Save Our Sarasota urge you to vote in the Special Election to be held on November 8, 2005. This is a county wide election and you can vote as a city or county resident at your usual polling place. Early voting begins on October 24 at either the North or South County Elections Office.

Please vote "YES" and "YES" on the only two items on the ballot. You will be saying "YES" to the County purchasing environmentally sensitive lands and continuing the ad valorem tax until 2029. These votes will be affirming that you want to keep clean water, green space, animal sanctuaries and that you want to increase neighborhood park land.

For more information: Sarasota County Forever

After 5 Urbanity

The scene was pretty lively - a couple hundred people enjoying music under the city lights.

It was Friday night at the Lemon Street plaza. The biggest crowd was clustered by the beer trailer, it was warm you know - the evening, that is, not the beer. And the weekend had finally started!

Mattison's was full. In between the chattering you could hear the ice rattling in the martini shaker, and the clinking of wine glasses. And of course the sweet odors from the food being crafted by the kitchen wizards permeated the air.

Across the street at the Gator Club, things were pretty subdued. Too early for the crowd that patronizes this great establishment. I'm sure when the After 5 Party wound down, many of the revelers would drift over to the Gator Club.

Meanwhile the band at the main event was cranking up and the gals were grooving to the beat.

Moving their feet, hips, shoulders and heads in sync with the tunes. Some of the guys were caught up in the music also, though most were happy just watching the gals.

All in all, it was an urban scene. A mostly younger, 30-ish or so -crowd, but with some middle aged and up hipsters sprinkled in, many watchers and talkers. A scene Sarasota has been promoting and we are seeing some success.

Of course when you meander up and down Main Street, it is still pretty quiet after 5. All the restaurants seemed to be doing a good business as the sidewalk tables all had customers and there were no empty parking spots to be found anywhere on Main. (I drove directly to the City Hall parking lot which was less than half full). But there are still very few stores open, not enough to sustain a lively crowd without a significant attraction like this event.

The phrase "in the hunt" usually conjures up images of the younger set looking for that someone special (unless you live in Wisconsin where the image might include blaze orange). Along Main Street the predominant image is circling cars waiting to pounce on an unexpected open parking space.

So the next time the City sponsors an After 5 event downtown, why not join the scene? Urban living, even on a small scale, can have some delightful moments.

One thing though, please forget about my secret parking spot.

Sarasota Blogs

Take a look at the CoolTown Studios posting on Joe Moraca's blog - posted on 10/15/05. (You can read about the Kiltie Band also.)

News From Eagle

The story about the candidate chosen for the Eagle County Administrator position.

Local news stories about Mike McNees withdrawing form consideration: Pelican Press, SHT.

Sweet Success? Only Time Will Tell

We recently received a copy of this e-mail:

I am concerned about the recent threat to the Pastry Art Bakery coming from the Isaac Brothers new development, Pineapple Square. The development is not even approved by the City Commission and the developer is already engaged in heavy handed tactics with local merchants. I go to Pastry Art several times a week, including Saturdays during the Downtown Farmer's Market.

It is a wonderful local business with fantastic food, coffee and friendly wait staff. These people will all lose their jobs in order for the City's downtown to get a "Crate and Barrel," "a Banana Republic" and more cookie cutter chain stores. Working at City Hall, I know that redevelopment and continued growth of downtown is important to the City.

But the City Commission must take a stand and decide what parts of downtown should be saved, preserved and enhanced before giving away more sidewalks, airspace, density and park land to developers. The preservation of small retail businesses on Main Street would be an excellent place to start.

I am also aware that the lovely antique business located at 127 S. Pineapple is likely to be bought out by Mr. Isaacs. This is a Florida Master Site File listed structure with some unique Mediterranean style window and roof elements. Another example of how downtown redevelopment without thought of the history of a place can destroy the very things that made many of us come to love Sarasota in the first place.

Please remember to preserve the character of the City while you encourage new development.

Susan Montgomery 2153 Sunnyside Place (District 1 Voter)

The story is covered in this week's Pelican Press. The Isaac's Group, new owners of the building that Pastry Art occupies, apparently decided to increase the rent dramatically. This would have forced the Pastry Art to close. However many loyal customers and residents that value out unique downtown businesses protested on behalf of Pastry Art. Soon the Mayor stepped in and was able to arrange an agreement that so far seems to allow the Pastry Art some breathing room.

We applaud the efforts by those that value our unique small businesses and Mayor Servian for quickly stepping in and finding an apparent solution.

However we also find this situation disturbing in that it provides a peek into the future of downtown. As developers purchase downtown properties, the prices they pay require much higher cash flow compared to the previous owner who had a much lower investment. This is the driving force for redevelopment. And while redevelopment has many good aspects, it will surely put much pressure on the small businesses we have when the rent bill comes around.

The long term future of many of these wonderful small businesses in downtown Sarasota is very much at risk. It will take a lot more than a quick meeting with the Mayor to save our downtown's unique character and businesses.

Florida Speculator Over Extended!

Python Eats Gator said the headline.

Everyone saw this picture recently. It was in all the newspapers and all over the web.

It shows a python eating an alligator, but the python seems to have overextended himself a bit and has burst.

In the process both the python and the alligator died.

In an uncontrolled moment, I titled this picture "Florida Speculator Over Extended!"

Maybe some of our readers have other ideas for the title of this picture?

Please leave a comment.