Monday, May 22, 2006
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR PARKING
In two city-owned lots in downtown Sarasota, public parking -- nearly 200 spaces' worth -- is free after 6 p.m. But next year, instead of parking there, be prepared to hand over your keys, your car, and an undetermined amount of your cash to a valet service under a developer's control.If that prospect displeases you, tell the city commissioners. Their 4-1 vote Monday, to hand control of the lots over to Pineapple Square, is the latest in a series of decisions that have put significant public resources toward the big retail/condo project -- without getting many concrete commitments from the developer. Both lots are important to the Pineapple Square project, which is expected to roll out in three phases that will:
1) put two major restaurants along the east side of Lemon Avenue;
2) bring a 13-story blend of condos, retail and a parking garage to the west side of Lemon; and
3) turn the city's existing State Street parking lot into a 10-story mixed-use structure.
[Read More]
In two city-owned lots in downtown Sarasota, public parking -- nearly 200 spaces' worth -- is free after 6 p.m. But next year, instead of parking there, be prepared to hand over your keys, your car, and an undetermined amount of your cash to a valet service under a developer's control.If that prospect displeases you, tell the city commissioners. Their 4-1 vote Monday, to hand control of the lots over to Pineapple Square, is the latest in a series of decisions that have put significant public resources toward the big retail/condo project -- without getting many concrete commitments from the developer. Both lots are important to the Pineapple Square project, which is expected to roll out in three phases that will:
1) put two major restaurants along the east side of Lemon Avenue;
2) bring a 13-story blend of condos, retail and a parking garage to the west side of Lemon; and
3) turn the city's existing State Street parking lot into a 10-story mixed-use structure.
[Read More]
