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REDEVELOPMENT OF FRUITVILLE ROAD
Goals:
To continue to work with the City to redevelop Fruitville Road between Route 301 and the North Tamiami Trail (41). The goal is to create a first class thoroughfare into downtown and promote economic development along its route.
Objectives:
To reconnect the Rosemary District, the Gillespie Park neighborhood back to downtown by improving the esthetics and safety of Fruitville Road. Elements of this plan include establishing pedestrian links to these neighborhoods, eliminating the bike paths and moving them to Sixth Street (Boulevard of the Arts) on the north and to Ringling Boulevard on the south.
Strategy:
Use of TIF and/or State Highway Funds to implement the reconstruction.
Updates:
Members of this committee were invited to join the City’s committee on the design and re-construction of Fruitville Road. This has resulted in a very successful public/private partnership. Planning is progressing well and is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2007. Construction is scheduled to begin in February, 2008. Project cost: $3.9Million
Timetable:
2006 -2008
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DOWNTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT
Goals:
To continue to work to create a National Register Historic District in the retail core of downtown.
Objectives:
The objective is to celebrate the historical roots of downtown and to create an economic strategy to ensure its sustainability.
Strategy:
The committee will work with the City of Sarasota, its Historical Commission, members of the Sarasota Preservation Community and members of the Downtown Partnership to ensure that the district is created.
Update:
The Committee met throughout 2006 and contracted with a Preservation Consultant to begin the initial survey of buildings within the proposed Historic District. Requests for funding the proposed Historic District were submitted to the CRAAB Board on October 26, 2006. Funding was requested for:
To hire a Historic Preservation Consultant$ 15,000Public Improvements in the District (Streets/Sidewalks) 10,000,000Façade Improvement Program in the district 3,000,000Timetable:
Completed
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SELBY FIVE POINT PARK
Goals:
To work with the City Government to ensure that Five Points Park is rehabilitated.
Objectives:
The Park is an integral part of downtown’s redevelopment and the proposed historic district. It should be a symbol for downtown.
Strategy:
The Committee will participate in public meetings and charrettes and will work with the city, downtown neighborhood associations, interested groups and the design team to insure that the park represents the best in design and use for downtown.
Updates:
In June, 2006 the City Commission asked the City Planning Department to start the planning process anew after the Commission rejected the initial design proposals. The Downtown Partnership invited additional members to join its existing Selby Five Points Park Committee. They include: the Greater Main Street Merchants Assn., the Five Points Park Neighborhood Assn., the Downtown Sarasota Condominium Association, the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, The Sarasota Opera, Golden Apple Dinner Theater and Save our Sarasota.
Timetable:
2006-2008
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BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT (BID)
Goals:
To prepare criteria and statistics to establish a tax funded vehicle to sustain the economic viability of downtown Sarasota.
Objectives:
To create a BID – Business Improvement District or a Downtown Economic Development Corporation.
Strategy:
Working in partnership with the City of Sarasota collect information on the Tax Value of downtown real estate in a defined area. and its related tax income to the City.
Update:
The Downtown Partnership’s Business Improvement District Committee has outlined the proposed boundary of the District, quantified the property values in the area and studied state legislation that would apply to this district. The Committee has interfaced with other Florida communities where similar legislation is already in place.
Timetable:
2006-2009
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NEWTOWN
Goals:
To work with the Newtown neighborhood and assist its leadership in completing the Newtown Plan.
Objectives:
To assist in the economic and development and revitalization of Newtown.
Strategy:
Working in partnership with the Newtown Redevelopment Office, assist in projects deemed appropriate for the Downtown Partnership by leaders in Newtown
Update:
The Downtown Partnership and the Newtown Redevelopment Office provided assistance to the Newtown Community Redevelopment Corporation to plan an Open Air Market. The Market loosely based on the Downtown Partnership’s Farmers Market will be held on Saturday mornings and will bring in neighborhood and area vendors to stimulate the economic redevelopment of the neighborhood.
Timetable:
Ongoing
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ROSEMARY DISTRICT
Goals:
To ensure the revitalization of the Rosemary District
Objectives:
To assist in the planning, implementation and rehabilitation of the Rosemary District
Strategy:
Create a partnership with the Rosemary Neighborhood Association and the City of Sarasota and others to create a master plan for the neighborhood. The plan would include zoning, housing density, public improvements, economic development incentives, and mixed use development including attainable and market rate housing
Timetable:
Ongoing
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CULTURAL DISTRICT
Goals:
To assist the City of Sarasota in its planning and implementation of the Cultural District
Objectives:
To insure that the district is well planned and funded
Strategy:
The Downtown Partnership and the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce have partnered to assist the City in naming a “Blue Ribbon” Committee to provide advice and fundraising assistance to complete the planning and implementation of the Cultural District
Timetable:
Ongoing
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DOWNTOWN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
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KEY ISSUES AND PROJECTS
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1416 State Street . Sarasota, FL 34236
Phone: 941-951-2656 . Fax: 941-366-6633
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