Cities hope SunRail riders will stop off and shop for a while

[thelakelander]

TOD seems to be on its way along the Sunrail corridor.  I'm happy for metro Orlando. The same could happen for Jacksonville, Orange Park, Green Cove Springs, St. Augustine, etc. if we can continue to move our own plans forward.

Several cities want to lure office workers and pedestrians getting off commuter-rail trains

When SunRail trains start pulling into stations in 2013, cities across Central Florida are hoping riders step off the train to visit their shops and restaurants â€" and maybe even move into new pedestrian communities built around rail stops.

In Longwood, a developer hopes young professionals will be living in apartments steps from the station before the trains hit the rails. Since May, Lake Mary has added more than 30 properties to its downtown district to make way for a revamped city center.

But although those cities are optimistic, developer William Shallcross, who lives in Winter Park, said finding investors will be a challenge, particularly when development dollars are sparse and more likely to go toward distressed properties available at bargain prices.

"I don't think redevelopment along a freight line is going to be very attractive to developers and their lenders," he said.

Here are plans for some of the 12 stations on the first phase of the rail line:

Longwood

A developer is planning a multistory 150,000-square-foot complex with steep roofs in carpenter gothic style to reflect the historic district across Ronald Reagan Boulevard from the station. The first floor would include offices and shops; mid-priced apartments would be stacked above.

Educational centers to train employees of nearby South Seminole Hospital also might be included, said Ryan Von Weller, managing partner of Orange Crown Holdings, which owns the property. He hopes a covered pathway from the bus station to the train station will be lined with vendors peddling wares from flowers to specialty groceries.

Von Weller said he would like to see residents moving in before the trains start running. "That's the working target right now," he said.

Lake Mary

Although Lake Mary's downtown has added eateries and a boutique in recent years, it's still easy to drive Lake Mary Boulevard and miss the district, which includes empty lots and homes. A consultant created a vision of a downtown that would almost double its size to 123 acres, with multistory buildings, an antiques and arts district, a cluster of cafes near the SunRail station and, possibly, an amphitheater. Asked whether the concept was realistic, Community Development Director John Omana said: "I would love for what's on that plan to happen, but … we'll let supply and demand answer that question."

The first developer in line is Chris Mahnken, who said his project â€" a two-story extension of the rail station â€" will likely open for business as soon as SunRail trains start running. Mahnken is planning office and retail space in addition to a waiting area where people could grab something to eat and take care of errands, from dropping off dry cleaning to paying water bills.

Winter Park

The city has no plans to change Park Avenue, but merchants there are hoping for a boost from the station at Central Park. "I think SunRail isn't the cure-all overnight, but we're excited about taking that first step and what it may mean down the road," Chamber of Commerce President Patrick Chapin said.

Maitland

A narrow patch of about 11 developable acres â€" mostly a lumberyard â€" surrounds Maitland's station on U.S. Highway 17-92. An office building recently went up, but the city hasn't seen specific development plans from the lumberyard owner. Pathways are planned to make the station more accessible from nearby neighborhoods. Mayor Doug Kinson expects home values to "skyrocket" once the train comes to town. Officials hope to offer trolleys to the planned new downtown.

Sanford

City officials have met with property owners at State Road 46 and Airport Boulevard, and although they're hoping for a mix of residential atop retail, no firm plans have been made. The station is far from downtown. Leaders may expand a shuttle route that transports people from Sanford's AutoTrain station to the city center to include SunRail commuters.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/seminole/os-sunrail-development-20100621,0,4299119.story

[thelakelander]

A proposed TOD at Longwood's commuter rail station



more graphics here: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/seminole/os-sunrail-development-20100621,0,4299119.story

[spuwho]

Actually, with graduated zoning, people will live along freight tracks as long as it provides an immediate benefit by providing walk up access to commuter rail.

Both NY (LIRR) and Chicago (Metra) have seen when suburbs have embraced transit oriented zoning, people will live, shop and dine within walking distance of the train station.

However, if they think it will be "destination" dining or shopping, it won't happen unless there is a general magnet to pull them in. ie: People will not ride a train just to eat Al's Pizza, but they would ride a train to go to Disney.

I used to live next to the UP West Line with constant unit trains with Power River coal passing through at 45mph plus. It didn't bother anyone. In fact people kind of treated it as a curiosity as they ate their ice cream in the evenings.

It is possible, it takes years to develop, and the city has to make the destination very desirable to attract beyond it limits.

I have never seen a Starbucks next to a commuter rail station go out of business.