City Seeks Input on Main Street Improvements

The public is invited to attend an interactive workshop from 5 - 7:30 p.m. tonight, Oct. 10, in the commission chambers in City Hall, 1565 First Street, to gather input about proposed improvements along Main Street.

The meeting will be hosted by the Downtown Improvement District and is intended to gather suggestions on how to enhance Main Street and create a more walkable community, a city news release said.

According to the city, it is anticipated improved streetscape will reduce the maintenance of public space while providing more definition to the downtown historic district. Potential improvements will consider sidewalk width, on-street parking, street lighting, street trees and vegetation, store frontage, truck deliveries, pavement type, drainage and utilities.

Following the workshop, the Downtown Improvement District’s consultant, Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., will create as many as eight design alternatives. It is anticipated those designs will be brought back to the public for review in November with implementation along Main Street in early 2012.

Established in 2008, the Downtown Improvement District is a financing mechanism to contract with the City of Sarasota for higher levels of service for trash collection, removing litter and graffiti, washing sidewalks, trimming trees and planting flowers, the release said.