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Seminole image comes into focus with photo exercise
By KATHY FERGUSON
| Article published on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2005 |
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SEMINOLE – Creating a clear, strong idea of what the City Council would like to see developing around this area was the goal of visual preference survey results shared at the Nov. 22 workshop.
Prior to the session, councilors were given disposable cameras to photograph a travelog of elements they liked and disliked across the city. A few councilors ventured outside Seminole to take photos of areas doing a good job on redevelopment.
Poster boards loaded with colored photographs lined the small workshop room in City Hall as Clarence Eng, the project manager for Renaissance Planning Group, reviewed and summarized the findings. Visualization is the first stage in the council-approved contract designed to help the city develop streetscape guidelines that include beautification, signage and architectural identity.
“It’s pretty clear that the council likes green space, well-managed areas and a more structured, programmed type of environment,” said Eng.
Several positive community icons that photographs captured included Thurston Groves, Seminole Isle, the recreation center, City Park, the St. Petersburg College campus and Pinellas Trail.
For the most part, the city’s landscaping received high marks from the council, particularly along 113th Street. Decorative stop signs and road signs were in the spotlight as were ponds and well-kept parks. The council said it wanted to focus on environment, eateries, entertainment, education and economic redevelopment.
When the session turned to “visual clutter,” Eng said a lot of the downbeat images brought forward included battered cars, trailers, gas stations and fast food restaurants that needed a “facelift.”
Many of the negative images the council photographed included the old Kash n’ Karry, water tower, used car dealerships, abandoned trailers and commercial vehicles parked on the street.
Councilor Jimmy Johnson said that 113th Street could be developed into a major business corridor and “take some of the pressure off Seminole Boulevard.”
Involving schools in the planning is an essential part of the process, he said.
“We need to make sure everyone knows where we are going,” Johnson said.
Councilor Pat Harstein wants to build on Seminole’s theme of being a “good place to live.” Whatever is done in the area, she said, it should be connected to the environment. “It needs to set the mood, set a tone,” she said.
“We need to make sure we don’t become a city of condos or townhomes.”
Getting businesses to buy into the change process will be a challenge many councilors said.
“Perhaps if we could start with one business, like one in a strip mall, that could change its appearance, it would get it started,” said Mayor Dottie Reeder.
Providing an incentive to business was a clear option, as well.
Eng said the next step is to further study the photographs along with the workshop comments and develop recommendations for the city’s new image. Using examples and alternatives, community workshops will be held to get residents involved in the final recommendations.
“We need to engage them and give them some things to chew on,” said Eng about community workshops that are planned for the January and February timeframe.
City Manager Frank Edmunds said the success of the project depends on the council and community.
“It will not happen if the council doesn’t support it,” he said. “We need your direction and the community’s participation.”
The entire project should be completed by July, Eng said.
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Article published on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2005
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