Pine Avenue Supporters Put Up The Bucks...
"Supporters of the Pine Avenue restoration project are putting their money where their mouths are."
That was the lead-in to the Anna Maria local news headlines on August 8th, 2007, when already, support for the newly proposed Pine Avenue restoration development was building.
"We’ve had wonderful response with our fund raising," said Michael Coleman. Coleman said about half of the $10 million needed had been raised from a disparate group of investors, but then declined to name them.
Coleman previously had in place, contracts on 21 lots on Pine Avenue, where he envisioned a series of buildings that would be used for offices or retail shops on the ground level with one living floor above — a use that was envisioned by Anna Maria City when the district was set aside for residential/office/retail (ROR) use in the 1992 comprehensive plan.
Florida Gulf Coast Cracker
Gene Aubrey, a local Anna Maria architect with an international reputation, designed structures for two of Coleman's lots. They are calling them "Florida Gulf Coast cracker". The buildings have wide porches where Coleman said he could see people sitting in rocking chairs.
Aubrey’s wife, Janet, said her husband, who is retired, was very excited about the project. He hadn't decided if he would do all the design work for the Pine Avenue restoration project, but was very enthusiastic about the project and in full support.
In addition to the 21 lots he already had under contract, Coleman said he'd been talking to other property owners along Pine Avenue who'd come forward. "We are now in conversation with two more property owners," he said. "So we are talking to the owners of six different properties in addition to the 21 lots we have under contract."
As soon as the $10 million is raised and the lots acquired, Coleman said the investors would get with the designers, engineers and city to get final plans drawn. Then the actual building would begin.
People Onboard Love Anna Maria Island's Laid Back Nature
Coleman also said the people who are getting on board are "people who love Anna Maria Island and want to keep the laid back nature of what we have here." Coleman made those remarks to Anna Maria city commissioners last month as he outlined his vision for them.
"I envision a promenade along Pine Avenue all the way from the city pier to the Gulf," he told them. "When you talk to the old-timers, that’s what the forefathers of this Island envisioned."
Restaurateur Ed Chiles is another enthusiastic supporter of the project. He’s working behind the scenes with potential investors.
Pine Avenue an Open Book Development
Coleman said he wants the entire project to be an open book. "I know that people have concerns about specific aspects of this project," he said. "A big concern is parking, but when you talk to people in depth, it’s not really parking they’re concerned about, it’s traffic flow. There has to be a way for people to move on and off the streets without a negative impact on neighboring streets like Spring Avenue. We are going to study that and deal with it."
Coleman said he wants the local community to be in open conversation about the Pine Avenue project, right from the beginning. "If anyone has an issue, let’s be as open and direct as we can," he said. "Let’s talk about it."
A man of his word, Coleman said anyone wanting to talk to him about the project could call him directly at 778-5493.
With half the needed investment raised, it was only a matter of time before construction on the Pine Avenue Restoration began.
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