The Future of Anna Maria...
Last Updated December 16th, 2008.
"Preserving the Past, While Planning for the Future."
That was the headline on September the 7th, as a group of Anna Maria City residents and local developers were busy working to preserve that Old Florida look and feel, as they plan for the future of Anna Maria Island.
Anna Maria resident, Jane Coleman, said the Anna Maria Island community's charm won her over, but when she noticed "For Sale" signs popping up and down along Pine Avenue, she worried that big development could move in.
"I've seen these incredible little villages before, and I've seen them go both ways," Coleman said. "I've seen them lost forever in such a way they are lost forever, the character's lost forever and you can never get it back."
After giving it some thought, Coleman, along with her husband, Michael, teamed up with other Anna Maria Island residents and began planning the Pine Avenue restoration project. The group is actively buying historic Anna Maria homes with the intention of turning them into places suitable for business.
The Rosedale Cottage is exactly the kind of home the group hopes to save. It was built in 1913, built using block purchased from Sears and Roebuck. The Roser Chapel across the street is constructed out of the same store-bought block.
The group envisions Rosedale Cottage as a hub of sorts alone Pine Avenue. The development would be similar to what has already happened in the nearby Roser Cottage, which now houses Sato Realty.
Jason Sato, who operates the realty company, said he's looking forward to getting neighbors. "I can't say enough," he said. "I mean we're very excited about it happening. I mean we can't wait for them to break ground."
Coleman said she can't wait either, as she anxiously watches her vision come to life. "It's just going to come alive," she said. "To do that without losing what we already have is the exciting part of it."
Organizers said they hope that when the Pine Avenue restoration is complete, it will have the pedestrian-friendliness of Sarasota's St. Armand's Circle, while still maintaining Anna Maria Island's laid-back, old-Florida atmosphere.
Recent Comments