Main Street draft concepts available for review at Dec. 17 meeting | City of Sarasota

Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC

 

City of Sarasota, FL: The public is invited to a community meeting to review and share input on draft concepts for an improved Main Street as part of the Main Street Complete Streets visioning project. The meeting will be an open house format and take place at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17 at the Selby Public Library, 1331 First Street.

Attendees will have the opportunity to view the draft concepts, provide feedback and talk with the project team. The concepts were created based on public engagement sessions in Spring 2024, including a visioning workshop, open house, one-on-one conversations with merchants and an online survey with over 1,500 responses. Initial feedback indicated the top five priorities for Main Street should be:

 

  • additional outdoor dining and shopping spaces
  • lush landscaping
  • attractive, inviting public spaces
  • enhanced lighting
  • additional shade

 

The draft concepts incorporate a wide range of ideas while reflecting the community’s needs and values.

The Main Street Complete Streets project will transform Main Street, between U.S. 41 and School Avenue, into a vibrant more attractive corridor that fosters improved safety for walking, cycling and driving.

“Residents, business owner and visitors can help shape the look, feel and functionality of Main Street by participating in the visioning phase,” said Chief Transportation Planner Alvimarie Corales. “We hope to receive feedback from the community to ensure the design and vision palette represent the community’s preference to enhance Main Street as an inclusive and thriving hub of activity.”

In addition to the public meeting, a brief online survey about priorities and visual preferences for Main Street is open through Friday, Dec. 20. Take the survey here.

All materials presented at the community meeting will be available within seven business days on the Main Street Complete Streets webpage www.Sarasotafl.gov/MainStreetCompleteStreets.