WalMart Proposes Urban Model Superstore for City Neighborhood Edge

This proposal has stirred up many neighbors and small businesses in nearby downtown Sarasota.  Folks are concerned about a very large, 24/7 operation that does not have the infrastructure or buffering to accommodate such a store.  Nearby businesses are concerned by the potential competitive imbalance.

Candy Spaulding wrote an excellent Guest Editorial to the Sarasota Herald tribune that discusses these issues.  Please take a look at this well written article.

Historic Preservation News

HISTORIC BUILDINGS RECOGNIZED

Sarasota, FL: An awards presentation honoring recent historic preservation designees will take place Thursday, May 20, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. at the Garden Club, 1131 Boulevard of the Arts. A new historic district and nine structures, many owned by the City of Sarasota, will be recognized.

The honorees include:

• Umbrella House, 1300 Westway Drive
• Federal Building, 111 S. Orange Avenue
• City Hall, 1565 First Street
• Blue Pagoda Building, 655 N. Tamiami Trail
• Chidsey Building, 701 N. Tamiami Trail
• Sarasota Garden Club (with its Potting Shed), 1131 Boulevard of the Arts
• Bayfront Historic District with the contributing Art Center, 707 N. Tamiami, Trail and the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium with the Hazzard Fountain, 801 N. Tamiami Trail

The owner of each historically designated building will be presented with a bronze plaque signifying the historic listing by the City of Sarasota. “Historic Preservation is important because it protects our cultural resources for future generations,” said Dr. Clifford Smith, City of Sarasota Historic Preservationist. “It provides the community with a unique identification. It’s one of the main reasons tourists come to our City instead of somewhere else.”

Presentations also will be given by the Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau, Sarasota Art Center, Sarasota Garden Club and the Gulf Beach Resort. Mayor Kelly Kirschner, City Commissioner Suzanne Atwell and City Commissioner Richard Clapp will be on hand for the recognitions.

New College Building a Public Archeological Lab

On March 8, 2010 New College began construction of an archeological lab to allow a hands on learning experience of the processes of finding, identifying and cataloging local artifacts.

While the Sarasota area has a somewhat brief recorded history, we have a very long history of settlement by man – going back 10,000 years or so.

It is this record that makes us unique and the New College lab will help us learn more about these early settlements.

President Michaelson addresses those gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony:

Below, Sherry Svekis (Time Sifters of Sarasota) talks about the importance of understanding our past.

And then the shovels turn the dirt.

The new facility will be finished in about 4 months.

Circus Recognition in Sarasota

If you know about Sarasota, you know about our circus heritage.

Recently two events happened that highlight this heritage.

An Historical Marker was unveiled at the home of the Wallenda family. This plaque is on Arlington near the intersection with Orange. If you get the chance stop by and take a look.

The second event was the 23rd Annual Induction into the Circus Ring of Fame at St Armands Circle. This event was attended by several hundred folks and six new inductees were honored for their contributions to the legacy of the circus.

Sarasota has a unique connection to the circus and these events remind us of this.

RTC

New Sarasota County History Web Site

Sarasota County has launched a new web portal for historical resources.  There is lots of information here about our history.

Take a look.

RTC

Laying Bricks in Laurel Park

A neighborhood improvement project organized and sponsored by the Laurel Park Neighborhood Association drew many volunteers that put bricks back onto the street to restore the street to it’s 1920’s look.

The bricks had been reclaimed from city projects that required removal. The neighborhood association had worked with the city to save bricks for eventual replacement. This was the day for replacement.

Bricks needed to be cleaned, laced on a prepared bed, tapped into place and sand swept into the space between the bricks.

It was a good day for preserving the neighborhood character.

By: RTC

Benefits of Green Space

From Parade Magazine:

Publishing in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, the authors studied the medical charts of more than 345,000 people in Holland, noting each person’s address and how close it was to a park, garden, or other green space.

People living near a green space had lower rates of 15 out of 24 diseases, including asthma, diabetes, intestinal complaints, and back and neck problems. The links were strongest for depression and anxiety. For example, people whose environment was 90% green were significantly less likely to have an anxiety disorder than those living where it was only 10% green (18 out of 1000 vs. 26 out of 1000).

The Dutch study is the first large-scale look at the relationship between green space and health conditions to rely on medical data rather than individuals’ perceptions of their health. The researchers urge urban planners to “take the amount of green space in the living environment into account.”

Tree Memorial for Janice Green

Dear Save Our Sarasota supporter,

We sadly lost our SOS founder, Janice Green, on February 7, 2009, after a long illness.

Janice asked us to plant a black olive tree in Bayfront Park in her memory. Her first SOS project was saving the black olive trees on Main Street.

We are working with the City through their Legacy Tree and Bench Program to fulfill Janice's wish. The cost to purchase and plant a tree plus install a memorial plaque is $500. If enough funds are collected, a second tree will be planted.

If you would like to join in this tribute to Janice, please send a check payable to the Sarasota City Parks Foundation, specifying that it is for the Janice Green Memorial Tree Fund to:

Sarasota City Parks Foundation
1900 Main Street, Suite 301
Sarasota, FL 34202

All contributions are tax deductible.

In approximately six weeks when the City is ready to schedule the planting, invitations to the celebration of Janice's life and her contributions to a better Sarasota will be sent.

Thank you for your participation in Save Our Sarasota.

Sincerely,

SOS Steering Committee


P.S. If you would like information about the City's program to memorialize friends and family with trees and benches in public parks, you may contact Nancy Kelly with the City at 954-2612.

For information about the Parks Foundation, contact Dr. Larry Miller, Chair, at 504-2774.

Political Committee Contributers

The current Sarasota City Commission election has featured the negative attacks generated by members of Sarasota's land use and business community. This Political Committee, named "Citizens for a Better Sarasota" has attacked candidate Terry Turner.

Turner received the highest vote total in the general election and is now in a runoff wih the next two highest vote receivers.

Contributions to Citizens for a Better Sarasota – 8/21/2006 – 3/05/09
------------
$18,500 - Piero Rivolta
Lancaster Partners
M&R Sarasota Development
Parkway Collectors Extra
Rivo at Ringling
Rivolta Yachts

$11,000 - John Cox
Half-Acre Construction

$11,000 - Frederick Derr
Frederick Derr & Company

$11,000 - H.R. Foxworthy
Retired

$11,000 - Donald McDonough
Wm. F. McDonough Plumbing

$10,000 - Robert Flanders
Quality Walls Enterprises

$10,000 - Walter Mills
W.G. Mills

$6,000 - Tom Dabney
Beneva Retail Assoc.
Gateway Investors
Gulf Coast Property Serv.
Tuttle Retail Assoc.
University Retail

$6,000 - Abel Band
Law firm

$5,000 – Sen. Michael Bennett/Rep. Ronald Reagan,
Citizens for Housing and Urban Growth PAC

$5,000 - William Dooley
Dooley Mack

$5,000 - Stanley Mueser
Retired

$5,000 - Donald E. Murphy
D.E. Murphy Constructors

$5,000 - F. Fred Pezeshkan
Kraft Construction

$5,000 - Donald Powers
Rusty Plumbing

$3,000 - David Sessions
Willis A. Smith Construction

$3,000 - Robert Soran
Marina Jack, Inc.

$2,500 - David Bustard
JDCK Operations

$2,500 - Fred Starling
Fred M. Starling

$2,500 - Charles Wilson
Charles H. Wilson Construction

$2,000 - Dr. Mark S. Kaufmann
Developer

$2,000 - Sam Norton
Norton Hammersley, PA

$1,500 - Brian Turner
Hi Hat Ranch-Florida Premier Turf

$1,250 - Charles Nebec
Vision Homes of SW Florida

$1,000 - Kathryn Angell Carr
Abel-Band attorney

$1,000 - John King
Contractor

$1,000 - Michael Moulton
Realtor-Michael Saunders

$1,000 - Jeffrey S. Russell
Abel-Band attorney

$1,000 - Ronald Shenkin
Hunters Creek of Sarasota

$1,000 - Jon F. Swift
Jon. F. Swift, Inc.

$1,000 - Anthony Abate
Abel-Band Attorney

$500 – Jay Turner
Hi-Hat Ranch – LBJ Ranch

$500 – Richard Turner
Hi-Hat Ranch – RET Montana

$300 - Charles Githler
Real estate

$50 - Thomas Christian
Abel Band Attorney

Treasurers

9/1/2006-12/31/2006 Christine M. Mayer
12/31/2006-3/5/2009 – Frederick M. Derr

Consultants

The Nolan Group
Bradenton, FL

Barcelo & Company
Jacksonville, FL

Negative Campaigning

Two recent campaigns in Sarasota were noted by the increased activity of negative campaigning by political committees.

One election considered a city charter amendment that would change to an elected mayor with tow added commissioners and increased powers given to the mayor. During the final two weeks of this campaign, the proponents of the amendment began a series of negative attacks targeting the current mayor (a ceremonial post, selected by the five commissioners for a one year term).

The amendment was soundly defeated.

The other election was for two at large city commissioners. Eight candidates entered the race and one candidate was targeted by a political committee (Citizens for a Better Sarasota, composed mostly of developers and related land use business people). This campaign failed as the targeted candidate (Terry Turner) garnered the most votes.

Sarasota Herald Tribune editorials have decried the negative attacks. However the negative attacks by the developer group continues in the runoff election.

The Pelican Press has urged voters to "cast only a single vote for Terry Turner" as a way to show the "bullies" that are behind these negative attacks that their tactics will not work in Sarasota.

It is also important that those contributing to these attacks be held accountable for their actions. A future column will list the contributors.

Janice Green, SOS Founder, Dies

Janice Green, one of Sarasota’s most prominent advocates for better city planning and design, died peacefully February 7, 2009 at her home in Cherokee Park, Sarasota, Florida.

A few days before, on Monday February 1, 2009, the City Commission of the City of Sarasota, Florida, recognized Janice, as they stated :"on behalf of the citizens of our community. She has worked faithfully and given generously of her time and efforts in all she has accomplished. She has been a "longtime active member of both the National Historic Trust and Florida History Trust" and as a member and former officer for Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation who spearheaded local historic designation for Cherokee Park entry walls. She ran for public office in her hometown of Norwalk, Connecticut before moving to Sarasota where she specialized in significant historic homes during her real estate career, and as the founder of Save Our Sarasota, a grassroots activist organization promoting saving trees, preserving green space and public land … Lou Ann R. Palmer, Mayor and Ken Shelin,Vice Mayor, and Commissioners Richard Clapp, Fredd "Glossie"Atkins and Kelly Kirschner extend their appreciation to her."

Janice will long be remembered by the city as the dynamic founder in 2004, of Save Our Sarasota, a movement to counter the downtown encroachment of "urbanization reflecting a signature of concrete." From her early interest in assuring community beauty she gathered together over a hundred like minded members to mobilize the city to maintain the simple tree lined street against encroaching arcades which, she reported, "turned the downtown public sidewalks and airspace into private property." Always a creative and courageous leader she spearheaded a social and political movement that continues to receive the attention and respect of city and business and neighborhood leaders.

Hers was a long history of active leadership in community design begun four decades ago in Norwalk, Connecticut with the formation of an earlier group she called the Association for Better Community Design. ABCD was similarly devoted to improving the architecture of local public buildings including schools, firehouses, and other facilities. With Janice as its chair that group also lobbied both the city and state for many changes. There she who helped replace a high suspension bridge across the Norwalk River with a lower more graceful silhouette. In that lower Fairfield Country city she was so respected, not only in those areas, but also as President of the Norwalk League of Women Voters, that she was asked to run for the elected office of State Representative.

In Sarasota, where she moved with her husband three decades ago, she became a successful realtor, initially with Mt. Vernon Reality and most recently with Michael Saunders & Company. She was a member of the First Church of Christian Science in Sarasota and served as Chairman of its Board of Directors.

Janice is pre-deceased by her husband, William Carleton Green, and her son, Mitchell Green. She is survived by her sister, Sara Crosby of Sarasota, her nephews Carl and Herbert Crosby of Sarasota and Winfield, Missouri, and her sister-in-law, Barbara Hunter, of Madeira Beach.

In lieu of flowers, Janice has requested that everyone "plant trees".

Neal Pierce Column on City/Surburb

Pierce's column is particularly thought provoking this week. I was asked to post it:

"BACK TO THE CITY" -- IS THIS THE MOMENT? August 24, 2008
by Neal Pierce

City or suburb? For decades that's been the choice for most Americans. Suburbs have been the hands-down winners -- by the millions, we've rushed to the urban edge.

But could we be on the cusp of an historic "back to the city" shift? The case is building.

Alan Ehrenhalt, executive editor of Governing magazine, says we're in the midst of a "demographic inversion."

Check such cities as Atlanta and Washington, he suggests -- they're beginning to resemble historic Vienna or Paris, the centuries-old pattern in which the people of means chose to live near the vital city centers, while the poor were left to live in the less expensive outskirts.

Atlanta, for example, is seeing so many better-off whites move in that its decades-old status as a predominantly black and low-income city may soon be reversed. Conversely, suburban Clayton and DeKalb counties are already registering black majorities while simultaneously serving as immigrant gateways.

A parallel switch has been under way in Washington, D.C., for several years as young professionals have poured into neighborhoods such as the 14th and U Street corridors that were an epicenter of the 1968 riots. Chicago has registered sensational gains in downtown living. The same phenomenon is being registered continentwide -- strong on the West Coast, even cropping up in such Sun Belt cities as Charlotte and Houston.

Why this shift, now? Industries, with their smokestacks, noise and pollutants, have largely disappeared from city centers. Random urban street violence, the scourge of urban life in the 1970s and '80s, has subsided dramatically.

And, writes Ehrenhalt in a recent New Republic article, today's youth, bored by the cul-de-sac world they grew up in, are the cutting edge of the new population move: "It is striking how pervasive the pro-city sensibility is within this generation, particularly among its elite."

The cities' revival is even broader -- not just young singles and married couples but "mingles" (unmarried and gay couples) and "jingles" (ex-suburban empty-nesters), notes William Hudnut, former Indianapolis mayor and Urban Land Institute senior fellow.

There's a big cautionary note here -- we're not about to witness abandonment of the suburbs, or rapid movement back to all our city cores. "But we are living," Ehrenhalt notes, "at a moment in which the massive outward migration of the affluent that characterized the second half of the 20th century is coming to an end."

So what are the affluent and their middle-class friends seeking? "Walkable urbanism" -- places with convenient

Read the rest of the column here.

City Hall Landscape Honored as Florida Friendly Yard

From Jan Thornburg – City Hall

Sarasota, FL: To see firsthand what a quintessential Florida Friendly Yard looks like, take a peek at City Hall, 1565 First Street. The City of Sarasota was notified yesterday its City Hall landscape achieved the highest recognition level for Florida Friendly Yards. The recognition was awarded by environmental experts at the University of Florida extension office in Sarasota County.

The City achieved the "Golden Oak" recognition level, the highest of three levels, by assuring the landscape protects our natural resources. The landscape demonstrates to the public that serious environmental issues, such as storm water runoff, water shortages, and disappearing wildlife habitats, can be addressed without sacrificing attractive landscaping. "We wanted to showcase the plantings at City Hall as an educational tool because it is a public space that receives many visitors," said Michele Mician, Neighborhood Coordinator who oversees green initiatives for the City of Sarasota. Some of the techniques used at City Hall include:

• Planting more native species
• Recycling grass clippings
• Collecting rainwater and using it to water plants
• Using drip irrigation
• Avoiding fertilizers and pesticides
• Positioning trees and shrubs to improve the building's cooling capacity
• Planting low maintenance plants
• Providing cover for wildlife
• Purchasing plant materials from local native plant stores
• Positioning plants according to the principals of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED)

Moving forward with green initiatives is one of the City Commission's top five critical priorities. In October 2007, the Environmental Management Task Force, comprised of City employees, was created to oversee sustainability issues within City government. "The landscape department includes a master gardener whose expertise helped make the garden bed at City Hall Florida friendly," said Neil Gaines, a Public Works employee who is a member of the EMTF.

In addition to the Florida Friendly Yard, visitors to City Hall can also see a set of rain barrels, which capture rainwater. Ultimately, that water is used to irrigate plants and flowers at City Hall through a drip system.

For more information about green initiatives visit http://www.yourgreencity.sarasotagov.com/

The Greening of Main

From an article in today's SHT concerning the proposed downtown green policy:

The intersection of Main Street and Palm Avenue has been due for a makeover for more than four years, with as much as $130,000 set aside to install plants, brick and benches.

But for those same four years, the project has been mired in debate.

On one side, members of the downtown group Save Our Sarasota want more trees and plants. On the other side merchants and some downtown residents prefer an urban look with more brick and fewer plants.

But everyone agrees Main and Palm is a key intersection, and ought to be a model for other intersections.

Now, after several failed attempts at compromise, city officials have appointed a committee to break the stalemate.

The five-member group -- which consists of a property owner, a restaurateur, a gardener, a downtown condo resident and a person who has lobbied in the past for more greenery downtown -- will have its first meeting Tuesday to talk about improvements at Main Street and Palm Avenue.

.................

Janice Green, who voiced concerns about an earlier plan to spruce up the intersection, hopes that the committee will come up with something more palatable.

"There has to be some greenery so you don't feel overwhelmed," Green said. "Even New York City has lots of trees on the east side.

"Green is chairwoman of Save Our Sarasota, a group that has lobbied against several proposals to make downtown more urban.

"Let's see what they come up with," Green said. "So far, SOS is very pleased with what is going on. I think it is a wonderful first step."

Carol Reynolds, also a member of Save Our Sarasota, will serve on the committee.

Sarasota Green Connection Event

Sarasota Green World Café
July 3, 2008

“Creating A Safe Lawn For Your Family”

Imagine rolling in a circle of deep lush green fragrant grass. Imagine not worrying about residual chemicals or invasive odors in your own yard – a place that should be your own private escape from the toils of your daily grind. Imagine your children and pets frolicking in a chemical-free paradise.

At the July Green World Café, listen to Safescapes offer advice on how to create your own “safe” haven, or let us do it for you. Heath Jorgenson, landscape design and consultant of Tranquillescapes, and Paige Taggart Long of Safescapes, have joined forces to create a dynamic duo that is out to revolutionize the way we care for our lawns. From the products other landscape professionals apply to the gas guzzling equipment that they use, Safescapes can offer alternatives that will give you peace of mind.

SARASOTA GREEN CONNECTION (SGC) INVITES YOU TO ATTEND THE JULY GREEN WORLD CAFÉ EVENT ON JULY 3rd, 2008 FROM 7-9 PM IN THE WHOLE FOODS MARKET WHOLE LIFESTYLE CENTER AT THE CORNER OF 1ST STREET AND LEMON AVE.

The Green World Café is brought to you by Sarasota Green Marketplace and is co-sponsored by Natural Awakenings in celebration of the Earth Charter. It is held the first Thursday of every month and is FREE and open to the public. Each event features a Sarasota Green Connection (SGC) Approved Business Owner or Friend. After the featured speaker, an interactive conversation takes place that focuses on one of the Earth Charter principles.

For more info visit http://www.earthcharter.org/ and to find other SGC Approved businesses, visit http://www.sarasotagreenconnection.com/.

Sarasota Green Connection is a division of Sarasota Green Marketplace.

Contact Mary Anne Bowie
Sarasota Green Marketplace
941.321.0424

Better Streets

Better Streets

Click on the above and you will find a web site describing a proposal for San Francisco to improve their streets.

Be sure to run the mouse over the street scenes to see what the same street could become.

Green space and trees make the difference. This is what Save Our Sarasota has been promoting for several years: save the existing trees and add more.

The visual change is amazing.

Downtown Greenspace Policy Update

In response to the overwhelming support for greenspace expressed by citizens, the City Commission reaffirmed its commitment to downtown landscaping by directing staff to draft changes to the Downtown Master Plan to reflect a commitment to greenspace versus the current hardscape focus.

Commissioners also asked representatives from resident, merchant and property owner organizations to work together on the landscaping design for the planned renovation of the Main and Palm intersection.

Your support through emails, attendance at meetings and phone calls has been instrumental in letting our Commissioners know how important downtown greenspace is to citizens. We are so grateful to each of you for your participation in these efforts.

Steering Committee
Save Our Sarasota

Cutting down nature to save nature

Here is a nice large pine tree in Laurel Park. It no longer exists.

Seems the developer of the property has a plan for a house with solar panels on the roof. The pine tree was deemed to be a hiderance as it would shade the solar panel.

Removal was the only option.

Thus nature was cut down and removed so we could save the planet....


[A similar action in California sparked worldwide attention recently.]

It’s a drought

The drought continues here in Sarasota – for the past two years we have had less than normal rainfall and our water supplies continue to be depleted.

At city hall a demonstration rain barrel project was recently put in place.

Stop by and check it out sometime.

Arbor Day 2008

Each year the city of Sarasota celebrates Arbor Day by planting a tree at one of the schools in the city.

This year an oak was planted at Bay Haven School.

First through fourth grade students attended the ceremony. The students helped with he planting and sang a couple songs related to trees.

Thanks to the City of Sarasota, including Public Works staff and City Commissioners for participating in the celebration.

Thanks also to the staff and teachers at Bay Haven for organizing this event - particularly to Principal Betsy Asheim-Dean, Art Teacher Deb Herbert and Music Teacher Kim Miles.

Our Sarasota School system and their teachers and staff are supported by the community and they provide an excellent education for our community's children. Thank you!