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Highlands Today

Neighborhood Plan Presented To Washington Heights

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By JOE SEELIG

Highlands Today

Published: November 9, 2008

SEBRING - It wasn't as big a turnout, but "20 people is still a very nice turnout for this type of an event," said Robert Cohn, director of planning for Keith and Schnars, the city's planning and engineering firm.

The company was hired to create a neighborhood plan for Washington Heights.

The residents, the planners and two Community Redevelopment Agency officials met Thursday night at the Boys and Girls Club to see the unveiling of the neighborhood plan that incorporated what residents told them they would like to see during a Charrette held on July 18 and 19, to gather community input.

"The participation in that was the best of my career," said Jack Breed, a managing principal with Keith and Schnars. "This plan is largely the result of the wish list.

"This is the champagne presentation. This is what could be if the money was unlimited."

But money isn't unlimited and what they eventually could end up with could be more like apple cider, he told the group.

From here the plan goes for economic analysis, then back to the CRA and city council to create project priorities and land use changes to bring the community into compliance with its master plan.

Much depended upon obtaining land, grant funding, community support, financing and developers that are willing to invest.

"It's not the responsibility of the city or the CRA to build this," he said. "We have to attract businesses to the neighborhood. We all have got to work together to make that a reality."

The planners presented the audience with its vision.

It showed some two-story business development along Lemon Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard. At the Charrette the people told the planners they didn't want anything higher than two stories built.

It included a gateway feature, parks, a civic or community center, and parking.

Some parts of the plans would be modified by the developers. Parts of the plan might be modified because of funding. And some parts of the plan would happen first in order to attract developers and businesses to work at the next part of the plan.

It had to be sustainable to entice investors, they were told.

People wanted to see a drug store, a market, a beauty salon, restaurants and maybe a day care, so the plan included some of that.

In some cases landscaping features might make a difference. Everyone there wanted to see crime reduced.

The plan included an extension of the existing streetscaping completed in August as well as affordable housing, multifamily, mixed use and senior living.

"This is exciting," said Jim McCollum, a CRA commissioner. "This is good stuff. There is great vision here. I hope we can put it together. With (CRA Executive Director Pete Pollard's) guidance I'm sure we can."

Rev. Robert Walker said he was somewhat concerned with the scope of the project.

"How do you eat an elephant," Breed replied.

"One bite at a time," a big part of the crowd responded.

Using donors of land, purchasing, grant money, it comes in pieces, Breed said.

The CRA can't apply for grants until they acquire the land," Pollard said. "There are a lot of creative ways to bring about the plan, but it's not easy."

Right now the state offers some recreational grants and that's about all that's available.

He told the audience he didn't know what kind of money they might see over the next couple of years from the federal government, but the new administration has committed to place money for community infrastructure, he said.

It's an evolutionary process, Breed reminded the people.

Cohn said Friday this could happen over a period of 20 years.

"I have good feelings about it," said Robert Saffold, chairman of the Washington Heights Concerned Citizens Group. "They've done a beautiful job to show what the vision could be."

"I think it's great," said Walker. "They did an outstanding job. The 20-year plan is OK. God will probably call me home first, but at some point these communities are going to be integrated. Whatever we do, let's make sure it's done with a spirit of excellence."

Woodraun Wright, is the area director of the Sebring and Avon Park Boys and Girls Clubs. He was last one out of the facility after tidying it up a bit.

"I think it's neat," he said when asked what he thought of the plans. "It's a 200 percent improvement from what's there now."

Joe Seelig can be reached at (863) 386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com .

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