Terry Lorince and Don Redman @ Downtown residents meeting

[Captain Zissou]

Tonight was the downtown residents meeting at the Peninsula.  Featured speakers were Don Redman and Terry Lorince.  Food was provided by Mortons (delicious) and the Grotto (could have been better).  The event was open to residents of The Carling, 11E, The Strand, The Peninsula, San Marco Place, and Berkman.

There was a crowd of between 50 and 70, dominated mostly by residents of Berkman, or as they liked to call themselves "The Plaza", which I refuse to call them because that's moronic.  It was an interesting mix of 60 somethings and 70 somethings, with the occasional under 40 resident peppered in.  My roommate and I, 25 and 23 respectively, stood out like sore thumbs.

It started off in typical networking fashion, people crowded around the food and drink and engaged in quick 2 minute conversations.  A few overzealous attendees (read: housewives) would go for the three minute convo, much to the dismay of their unsuspecting victim. People wandered out to the balcony and commented on the beauty of our downtown and how 'it has so much potential'.

The presentation got started with Terry Lorince of DVI explaining a little bit about the organization and  listed a couple quick points on what they had on their agenda.  She highlighted the friendship park changes, the southbank riverwalk, the need to fill downtown vacancies, cleaning up the streets downtown, and the movies in the park series over the summer.  One refreshing point was that she admitted they had dropped the ball on resurfacing riverplace blvd.  She said they should have put in a median or two, and made spaces for after hours on street parking. She then passed off the mic to Don Redman.

[vicupstate]

One refreshing point was that she admitted they had dropped the ball on resurfacing riverplace blvd.  She said they should have put in a median or two, and made spaces for after hours on street parking.

So exactly how difficult is it to paint some new lines?

[Captain Zissou]

It was tough to look at Don Redman after his tactful remarks last night, and even harder to actually listen to him without laughing.  As he got to the mic, he had to lower it about 8 inches from where Terry had set it.  He began by slurring an introduction and saying that it was great so many people cared about DT.  He then proceded to re-hash every point Lorince had just made, only at half the speed.  The only new piece of information he presented was that the riverwalk construction would start within 6 months, but probably closer to 2 months, and would last for about a year.  His overall theme was the city has a lot of ideas, but no money, so don't expect much from them in the near future.  He drolled on a couple more minutes before realizing he had lost the crowd, and then opened it up for questions for Lorince and himself.

Q &A was mainly Lorince answering questions that Redman had no clue about.  Lorince mentioned the city's efforts to lease out vacant space downtown to artists and other creative tenants.  She stressed the Florida theatre building, the snyder memorial, spaces close to Hemming Plaza, and the city hall annex.  She said they would love to have a Law School or a Cooking School downtown (smart readers would realize that both of these institutes have approached the city about this in the past 5 years, but the city told them to kick rocks).  She stressed that it was not the city's belief that they needed to focus on one project specifically as a cure all for downtown, but they needed to create a vibrant core full of activity to help draw in both residents and tenants.

[Captain Zissou]

Two other points she made in regards to tenants/ venues.  She said an unnamed bar would be opening near the bay st district.  She also mentioned that 'The people redeveloping the old library have some great plans, that when completed, will be very exciting'. It was vague and uninformative enough that I thought Redman had found a way to channel her somehow.

Overall it was a good event to bring together a few residents and show that the city does care, even if the council members can't vocalize full sentences.  Lorince seemed passionate and aware of the issues facing downtown. I look forward to what she does in the near future. 

[stjr]

Did Redman ask everyone to say a prayer that met his approval in front of him before they could eat?  Just asking.   

[Captain Zissou]

One refreshing point was that she admitted they had dropped the ball on resurfacing riverplace blvd.  She said they should have put in a median or two, and made spaces for after hours on street parking.

So exactly how difficult is it to paint some new lines?

She mentioned metered spaces...... So the real difficulty will be getting them to throw out that awful idea and settle for free, after hours, parallel parking spaces.  After that, it shouldn't be too tough.

[Captain Zissou]

Most of what Redman said was unintelligible, so he may have.  I wasn't able to understand it.

Another thing, apparently they have done a few studies and drawn up plans for the Southbank and riverplace blvd in order to make it softer and more pedestrian/ user friendly, but they have no money to implement the plans.

[thelakelander]

One refreshing point was that she admitted they had dropped the ball on resurfacing riverplace blvd.  She said they should have put in a median or two, and made spaces for after hours on street parking.

So exactly how difficult is it to paint some new lines?

She mentioned metered spaces...... So the real difficulty will be getting them to throw out that awful idea and settle for free, after hours, parallel parking spaces.  After that, it shouldn't be too tough.

They need bike lanes on that stretch more than metered parking spaces.  Most of the Southbank's buildings have their own parking lots.  With JTA's downtown BRT plan and lanes already on Hendricks, its a natural corridor to help extend a bike corridor into downtown.

[tufsu1]

One refreshing point was that she admitted they had dropped the ball on resurfacing riverplace blvd.  She said they should have put in a median or two, and made spaces for after hours on street parking.

So exactly how difficult is it to paint some new lines?

actually there will probably be a good chance soon...JTA is about to start final design on the downtown BRT and will likely start construction next year.

[Steve]

^Call me thrilled....

[CS Foltz]

I'm with you Steve...............I think I will choose ecstatic!

[tufsu1]

hey now....there's still a chance it could come out looking quite nice!