Council Directs Funding for Urban Renewal Plan

By Lisa Neff

Picture this.

Renderings depicting waterfront development, community character, mixed-use in commercial corridors, streetscapes and public spaces will be created as the city of Bradenton builds illustrative plans for urban renewal.

The Bradenton City Council, meeting May 28 at city hall, 101 Old Main St., voted 5-0 to work with Coral Gables-based Dover, Kohl & Partners town planning on such a project.

The goal is to create a “workable plan to shape the future investment and direct public improvements for years to come,” according to a “scope and fees” memo DK&P presented to the council.

The plan will contain a Bradenton Blueprint concept map to guide growth, providing “big-picture direction” citywide and also focusing on three special areas — not yet identified — for development strategies.

During phase one of the four-phase project, the consultants will analyze city regulations and codes, review prior studies, conduct market research and study maps and historical documents.

This phase also will involve producing new maps showing development patterns, areas for private and public investment and key corridors.

A site visit will involve a citywide tour and meetings.

The consultants also will be onsite for phase two, when they’ll prepare the special area plans in concert with the city and the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation.

The plan document really comes together, with illustrations, renderings and strategies during phase three.

“It’s a visual business,” said DK&P founding principal Victor Dover. “We make a lot of pictures. I’ll just warn you ahead of time. We’ll show you a lot of pictures and say, ‘Like this? No? How about like that?’ and help you choose from alternatives.”

The plan will be reviewed and finalized in phase four.

“The focus has to be on the doable, which means in our time not the fullness of the future,” Dover said.

During a discussion at the dais, Councilwoman Marianne Barnebey, Ward 2, said she’s looking for a plan to reinvest in and reinvigorate the downtown, help “people from Ward 5 to Ward 1” and address the needs of people of all ages.

DK&P senior project director Andrew Georgiadis responded, “We’re all on the same journey through that lifecycle, and so we do approach it with empathy, thinking how would each group benefit and what are their needs.”

Councilwoman Lisa Gonzalez Moore, Ward 4, added that it’s vital the work in three special areas “benefit everyone.”

Mayor Gene Brown emphasized that the new blueprint must be actionable and encourage investment — public and private.

“We’re sensitive to that,” said Georgiadis. “We hope to get your input.”

Sharon Hillstrom, EDC president and CEO, also told the council, “During this whole process, you will be engaged. So, your wishes, your desires for what these areas are that we identify, you will be part of that process.”

DK&P, in the memo, set an eight-month timeline, with a site visit taking place within the first two months, and they put the cost at under $200,000.

The council’s motion to approve Dover’s scope and fees proposal included direction to budget funding for the project, which could get underway this month.

“This will be a living, breathing plan,” Hillstrom said. “It is not going to sit on the shelf and gather dust.”

Victor Dover, founding principal of Dover, Kohl & Partners, addresses the Bradenton City Council May 28.