Sarasota Livin'

As usual I found a couple of good ideas on CoolTown Studios

The Environmental Protection Agency just announced their 2005 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement. Orlando won a award for the best Military Base Redevelopment..

Baldwin Park
City of Orlando
Orlando, Florida

When an 1,100-acre naval training facility in Orlando was closed, the city and its partners used the opportunity to create an exciting new community that reconnects with surrounding neighborhoods and provides new homes, jobs, stores, and parks, all just a few miles from downtown Orlando.

"The planning and partnerships that brought Baldwin Park to fruition had one clear vision: Of the day youngsters rode their bicycles on community sidewalks, families picnicked in one of the community’s parks, and grandparents watched their grandchildren thrive in a true neighborhood."
Glenda Hood
Florida Secretary of State and former Mayor of Orlando

The other link was about "Ten Common Sense Rules For Transit Oriented Development" which was on Planetizen a great planning web site / blog

What are the necessary ingredients for successful Transit Oriented Development (TOD)? Bruce Liedstrand, Planner for Liedstrand Associates, lists the ten fundamental, common-sense elements of TOD.

1. Urban Form
2. Urban Uses
3. Urban Intensity
4. Mixed-Use
5. Retail Location
6. Reverse the normal parking rules
7. Walkability
8. Transit Connectivity
9. Neighborhood Connectivity
10. Value Capture

I won't give you the reasoning about the list ... click on one of the links above to get a good explanation...

Just think about a good transit system (even fast / frequent buses) up and down US 41 from Palmetto to as far south as you dare imagine .... with "urban" neighborhoods at the major transit "nodes". Or even riding from downtown to downtown ... Tampa, St Pete, Bradenton, Sarasota, Venice, Punta Gorda, Ft Myers, Naples...