November 2007 Design Session
Session Summary
The Florida Public Officials Design Institute at
Abacoa, dedicated to improving South Florida communities
by offering training in smart growth and design, hosted
its tenth session in Jupiter, Florida, on November 8th
and 9th, 2007. This session included the City of Bradenton,
City of Hallandale Beach, Village of Pinecrest and City
of Vero Beach.
The session
began with teams of design experts visiting the communities
for site tours hosted by the officials and presentations
by staff on November 8th.
Later that evening, Kathy Madden, Senior Vice President
of Project for Public Spaces, delivered the keynote
address titled "Placemaking: Principles Needed
for Communities in Creating a Great Place to Live"
at the Florida Atlantic University Jupiter Campus.
Following her keynote address, Ms. Madden answered numerous
questions from the audience.
Kathy
Madden answers questions following her keynote address
The
second day of the Design Institute consisted of an all-day
workshop during which the resource experts addressed
the challenges of each project. All participants shared
ideas and perspectives on the officials’ projects.
Bradenton
Councilman Patrick Roff
Bradenton
Councilman Patrick Roff brought the 14th Street West
Study Area to the Design Institute and sought input
on how to overcome various obstacles when revitalizing
the site. The project area is a 230-acre two-mile long,
seriously blighted section of the north-south 14th Street
West (Tamiami Trail) road corridor, one of the City’s
major transportation arterials and part of a well-defined
grid layout that facilitates wayfinding and integrates
the urban fabric. The project area extends from Manatee
Avenue West to the north and 26th Avenue West to the
south. Project area limits extend two blocks east and
west of the corridor.
Hallandale
Commissioner Keith London
Hallandale
Commissioner Keith London sought advice on how to best
develop
and communicate a clear vision for the City of Hallandale
Beach. Due to anticipated private
development and changes in the gaming legislature, the
City of Hallandale Beach is experiencing tremendous
development pressure. Pending development applications
currently include 3,900 residential units, 2,700 hotel
units, and 3.1 million square feet of commercial and
office space. Commissioner
London came to the Design Institute seeking alternative
approaches and ideas to evaluate major new developments
within the context of a guiding vision so both the community
and the developments gain value.
Pinecrest
Vice Mayor Gail Serota
Pinecrest
Vice Mayor Gail Serota chose to evaluate the Village's
primary commercial corridor facing South Dixie Highway.
Her goal was to obtain guidance on how to redevelop
the site while creating more
of a cohesive aesthetic for the Village and implementing
planning techniques to make the business area more pedestrian-friendly.
The Project Area includes the Village’s commercial district,
higher density residential development that abuts the
commercial district and several exclusive use lots –
two lots located at 7520 Southwest 100th Street and
two vacant lots at the intersection of Southwest 81st
Road and Southwest 80th Road.
Vero
Beach Councilmember Ken Daige
Vero Beach
Councilmember Ken Daige brought the City's SR 60 "Twin
Pairs" Study Area to the Design Institute and sought
advice on how to redevelop the site and create a cohesive
strategy for the downtown that links goals for mobility,
land use, community character, and economic development.
The project area is enriched with market potential,
historic buildings, traditional street grids, proximity
to residential areas, and centrality. It has the potential
to be a walkable, pedestrian-friendly destination with
shops, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and
a great place to eat and linger. The biggest barrier
to this vision is, however, the one-way Twin Pairs section
of State Road 60.
Tenth
Design Institute Session
For
more information on the November 2007 Design Institute
Session, please visit this website's Final Report Section
located here.
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