Update: Rosemary District’s Park
Congratulations, Rosemary District, on gathering a record-breaking 852 responses to the survey on how you want to use our park.
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Community Meeting attendees met James Pankonin and Philip DiMaria who are leading our park’s design team at Kimley-Horn. They stressed that most of the team members have lived in Rosemary District, so they are familiar with the neighborhood.
Nevertheless, they will be starting fresh and combining survey input with their professional expertise in coming up with 3 master plan concepts for our review and feedback later this month. Those 3 concepts will be narrowed down to 2 shortly into the New Year, with feedback from the 2 culminating in a final master plan presented for approval in late January or early February.
The park construction timeline they laid out estimated completion of the park one year after City approval of the final design.
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Homelessness in Rosemary District
RDA welcomed Kevin Stiff, the City’s Coordinator of Homeless Response, to brief the neighborhood on this ongoing issue.
Homelessness versus Public Space Criminal Behavior
Stiff clarified that there are really two separate and distinct issues, each requiring a different response.
- Homelessness: At any point in time, some 400 people are living without housing in Sarasota. (30–35 in Rosemary District) Sarasota’s response is “Housing First” — getting them housing and supportive social services. This is the mission of Sarasota’s two Homeless Outreach (HOT) Teams, each comprised of a police officer and a case manager.
- Public Space Criminal Behavior: Blocking sidewalks, panhandling and carrying open containers of alcohol are illegal activity and subject to enforcement by the police regardless of the housing status of the perpetrator. Business owners should display “No Trespassing” signs to enable SPD enforcement.
“Do Not Suffer in Silence”
Stiff ask that we report criminal behavior to SPD while it is happening and make ourselves available to the responding officer to provide the information needed to make a criminal case. If you feared for your safety during the encounter, make that clear when you contact the police. Be sure to obtain the case # so you can follow up later. Cell phone video is also helpful.
Report concerns about homelessness to Stiff or the new HOT Commander, Sgt. Jonathan Misiewicz (941-702-3797). People living at SCAT bus shelters (County property) should also be reported to SCAT.
Do Not Be an Enabler
Handouts of food, money and clothing “enable” homeless individuals to live on the streets and to turn down offers of housing and support from social service agencies. If you want to help, donate instead to an agency that is a member of the Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness and its Continuum of Care. (This Resource Guide lists agencies.)
Homelessness and the Rosemary District Park
Each park in Sarasota has enforceable rules such as hours of use and permitted activities. SPD will enforce the rules established for the park in Rosemary District.
View Stiff’s complete presentation starting at the 37:00 minute mark of the video of the meeting.
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Other Meeting Highlights
RDA is pursuing an effort to place webcams on locations surrounding the park to provide “eyes on the park.”
Megan Howell of Second Heart Homes [Megan@SecondHeartHomes.org] introduced herself. This nonprofit organization, which provides supportive housing for homeless individuals with mental illness, is expanding from 4 homes for 24 men by adding a home for 12 women. Their office is at 900 Cocoanut Ave. (The Sarasota Farmers Market and the Fabulous Arts Foundation (formerly Harvey Milk Festival) also have office space in the building.)
The next Community Meeting is planned for January 19
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Meet Your Business Neighbors
DeDe Caldwell and Saasha Plefka, are the mother-daughter team behind Beauty Bridge.
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Beauty Bridge is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Salon that offers free personal care services to women who are struggling. Their purpose is to provide no-cost beauty services performed by volunteer, skilled, and licensed cosmetologists.
When asked what the goal is for Beauty Bridge, Saasha responded:
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“Beauty Bridge is a safe, caring space. Our vision is to open the door to beauty and personal care, removing the traditional obstacles of cost and access. We believe that providing individual services to meet each woman’s personal beauty needs will in turn build self-esteem and bring about confidence. Beauty Bridge Salons are community partners, working with other human service organizations in each urban location to provide resources to women as they rebuild their lives. This Sarasota location is the first concept salon for our organization. Our mission is to open Beauty Bridge Salons in urban areas throughout the US.”
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As far as their experience in Rosemary so far, Saasha mentioned:
“We are enjoying meeting our neighbors — both the businesses and the residents! We have been welcomed with open arms. What a wonderful and diverse community! Thank you to the district for embracing us and we are excited to continue to grow!”
Photos courtesy of Saasha Plefka
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RDA Holiday Decorations Competition
Your neighborhood association is sponsoring a competition among Rosemary District retailers and among Night Market vendors. Cash prizes will be awarded for the best holiday decorations. The winners in the two categories will be chosen by “celebrity” judges and a “people’s choice” winner will be selected by visitors to the RADD Night Market on December 16.
Businesses are being contacted now to register for the competition. If we missed you, Contact Us and we’ll send you a link to the registration form.
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RADD Offerings in Rosemary District
RADD has re-established the night market on Blvd of the Arts at Rosemary Square as the RADD Night Market on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 5–8 PM. The next market is on November 18. Special holiday events are planned for the market on December 16.
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The next RADD Bike Ride will start at the Dream Large yard on November 18 and end at the RADD Night Market. The event is free, but registration is required.
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City of Sarasota is seeking Public Input
Public Art Master Plan: The City’s Office of Public Art is developing a master plan to recommend how to make public art citywide. They are seeking public input to a new online survey which will be available until January 14.
ADA Transition Plan: Sarasota is also in the process of updating its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Self-evaluation and Transition Plan. One element of the process is gathering your input on how City of Sarasota department programs, services, activities or events are, or are not, accessible to persons with disabilities. The survey will be open through January 15.
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Florida Avenue Landscaping
After fine-tuning by Candie Pedersen, Parks and Recreation District General Manager, and her staff, the Florida Avenue streetscape is shaping up well. Thank you!
Before and after photos below
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Increase your Involvement: Renew Your Membership & Volunteer
The membership year ends on December 31, so now is a great time to renew your membership. New members will be credited with membership through 2022. (Members whose dues have been waived need to re-register for 2022.) Click to Renew, Join, or re-register for Waived dues. (A direct link to pay dues is here.)
As we emerge from the pandemic, Rosemary District Association is becoming more active in the neighborhood and needs volunteers to help make things happen. Right now, we need volunteers for one-hour shifts to welcome visitors to the RDA table at the Night Market (sign up here).
If you have an idea for a new project that you'd like to lead, Contact Us with your proposal.
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