Sanford Civic Center as a Historic Landmark?
In the March 2019 Historic Preservation Board meeting our Historic Preservation Board Officer Julie Scofield officially requested the city commission to designate the Civic Center as a Historic Landmark. Hopefully this will be on the agenda for a commission meeting soon.
The Sanford Historic Trust board has agreed that this would be a good thing. We also emailed membership and asked them their input and everyone that emailed us back was in support of this. We will speak at a meeting when appropriate in support of this when it is time.
"What is going on with the downtown Catalyst site?" That is a question that Nelson Beverly recently asked. In order to find out, he obtained some recent letters between the city and the developers which are quite interesting and speak to where the project is today. You can read the interchange here. All concerned Trust members are encouraged to read this interchange and make their own informed decision about the progress of the downtown development.
OPEN LETTER FROM PRESIDENT NELSON BEVERLY, 12/05/16
Dear fellow Sanfordites,
I implore you to take some time and watch this video. If you love Sanford and want the best for our city then you really need to watch it.
VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfij7aELLeA&feature=youtu.be
The video is from a recent lecture series hosted by the City of Sanford and organized by Christine Dalton. The guest speaker is Joe Minicozzi who currently resides in Asheville, NC.
Joe lays out in very easy to understand language why it is absolutely necessary for us to invest heavily in our Downtown. He connected the dots on how doing so will significantly increase Sanford’s tax revenues which will naturally increase the wealth level of our entire community.
Throughout the video he shares interesting stories and provides thought-provoking examples. This video is a practical “how to guide” for all Sanfordites on how we can maximize everything our city has to offer.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM MEETING ON 2/18/2016
Hopper Academy Donation request letter
Hopper Academy Donation request form
Proposed MOU document between Torre Companies and City of Sanford
Click the link below to see the presenation that Scott Sidler from Austin Home Restorations gave to the Trust on 6/24/2015.
For those of you that attended the general membership meeting on 3/19/2015, here is the additional info that was discussed during Commissioner Woodruff’s presentation about the City’s Waterfront Master Plan and the Downtown CRA:
Littlejohn
John Jones, AICP, CRP
jjones@leainc.com
www.leainc.com
407-975-1273
Littlejohn is the consulting firm hired by the City to produce the Waterfront Master Plan. They have held various public meetings to present information and gather feedback. Though most of their meetings have been at inconvenient times for the average working citizen, they do encourage citizens to email or call them with questions and feedback about the plan.
I'On Group
www.iongroup.com
A development company based in Charleston, SC that was recently shown the City’s working Waterfront Master Plan and asked for their input. A representative from I’On Group visited Sanford to survey the vacant property and give additional input.
I’On Group represents the type of company the City would ideally like to see complete the work outlined in the Waterfront Master Plan. Once the plan is finalized the City will solicit RFPs at which point I’On and others can submit their formal plans. Ideally, the best plan will be selected but that is where it’s important for the community to stay informed and involved in this process.
Downtown Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)
The Board of County Commissioners will vote on extending Sanford’s Downtown CRA soon but no date is publically known at this time. The Downtown CRA will officially expire on September 30 of this year unless it is extended by the County Commissioners. Click here(http://www.seminolecountyfl.gov/bcc/index.aspx?ref=https%3a%2f%2fwww.google.com%2f) to contact the County Commissioners and voice your view about the Downtown CRA.
Click here (http://www.sanfordfl.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=11838) to view the City of Sanford’s formal request to the County for extending the Downtown CRA.
City of Sanford contacts
407.688.5001
Jeff Triplett, Mayor, Jeff.Triplett@sanfordfl.gov
Art Woodruff, Commissioner, District 1, art.woodruff@sanfordfl.gov
Velma Williams, Commissioner, District 2, Velma.Williams@sanfordfl.gov
Randy Jones, Commissioner, District 3, Randy.Jones@sanfordfl.gov
Patty Mahany, Commissioner, District 4, Patty.Mahany@sanfordfl.gov
Bob Turk, Economic Development Director
Phone: 407.688.5015
E-mail: Bob.Turk@sanfordfl.gov
Russell Gibson, Director of Planning & Development Services
Phone: 407.688.5142
E-mail: russell.gibson@sanfordfl.gov
Sheena Fort, Administrative Specialist III
Phone: 407.688.5000 Ext. 6048
E-mail: Sheena.Fort@sanfordfl.gov
Christine Dalton, our city’s Historic Preservation Officer and Community Planner, has worked hard piecing together a proposed Cultural Grant Fund. After careful review, the Sanford Historic Trust is happy to support this plan, a plan that will benefit not just one area of Sanford but all of Sanford. It is modeled after the successful Sanford Community Redevelopment Agency grant program and aligns with the strategic priorities outlined in the Imagine Sanford visioning initiative.