FLORIDA PLANNING A publication of the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association
HISTORIC PRESERVATION & REUSE - Spring 2022
florida.planning.org
Planning, Preservation and Revitalization of Gullah Geechee Communities By Ennis Davis, AICP
My impact as a planner was forever altered during a 2017 Florida Trust for Historic Preservation board retreat. At the time, Miami-Dade County’s Adrienne Burke, AICP, Esq., had just purchased a book on tourism and segregation at Silver Springs called “Remembering Paradise Park” by Lu Vickers and Cynthia Wilson-Graham. Noticing the cover, I asked to take a quick look and realized a prominently featured name in the book was one I knew very well … my mother’s maiden name. After receiving confirmation that a cousin was the longtime operator of the park, a personal journey was launched to uncover my Gullah Geechee heritage, forever altering my continued on page 4
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
7
Historic St. Cloud: The Making of a National Register Historic District
10
Centering Equity & Resilience in Miami-Dade County Historic Preservation
11
Working to Create a State Historic Tax Credit to Preserve Historic Places, Revitalize Communities, and Drive Economic Growth
14
Cigar City History: Tampa's 110-Year-Old Union Station is Ready for Showtime
16
Nominations by Petition for APA Florida 2022 Elections
17
Florida Planning Conference 2022: Mobile Tours
OTHER FEATURES President’s Message - p. 3 Planners on the Move - p. 19 Working for You - p. 21 Consultants Directory - p. 22 Events - back page
The Florida Chapter of APA provides statewide leadership in the development of sustainable communities by advocating excellence in planning, providing professional development for its members, and working to protect and enhance the natural and built environments.
[APA FLORIDA] KEY CONTACTS - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Name
Phone
APA Florida Executive Committee President Wiatt Bowers, AICP
904-363-8488
president@floridaplanning.org
Immediate Past President
Laura Everitt, AICP, Esq., LEED GA
813-327-5450
pastpresident@floridaplanning.org fx
President-Elect
Whit Blanton, FAICP
727-464-8712
presidentelect@floridaplanning.org
Treasure Coast Section
Kori Benton, AICP
727-462-2518
treasurecoast@floridaplanning.org
Student Representative
Bob Bernhart
941-504-1852
students@floridaplanning.org t
VP-Professional Development
Henry Bittaker, FAICP
561-523-0687
profdevelopment@floridaplanning.org f
Secretary
Lara Bouck, AICP, PE
407-481-5672
secretary@floridaplanning.org
San Felasco Section
Juan Castillo
352-393-8698
sanfelasco@floridaplanning.org
Sun Coast Section
Katrina Corcoran, AICP
suncoast@floridaplanning.org
VP Membership/Outreach
Ennis Davis, AICP
904-396-5727
membership@floridaplanning.org
University Liaison
Laura Dedenbach, AICP, Ph.D.
352-294-1493
university@floridaplanning.org
VP Communications
Melissa Dickens, AICP
813-273-3774
communications@floridaplanning.org
Gold Coast Section
Fabian De La Espriella, AICP
786-245-5202
goldcoast@floridaplanning.org
Capital Area Section
Macy Falcon, AICP
850-380-2812
capitalarea@floridaplanning.org
EPG Representative
Sofia Garantiva, AICP
813-276-8330
ypg@floridaplanning.org
Promised Lands Section
Jason Green, AICP
promisedlands@floridaplanning.org
Broward Section
Daniel Keester-O'Mills, AICP
954-786-5541
broward@floridaplanning.org
Heart of Florida Section
Laura Lockwood-Herrscher, AICP, CPM
863-860-5105
heartoffl@floridaplanning.org
Treasurer
Allara Mills Gutcher, AICP
850-319-9180
treasurer@floridaplanning.orgaf
Orlando Metro Section
Luis Nieves-Ruiz, FAICP
407-245-0300
orlandometro@floridaplanning.org
VP Section Affairs
Tony Palermo, AICP
239-321-7926
sectionaffairs@floridaplanning.org
Atlantic Coast Section
Brad Parrish, AICP
321-567-3776
atlanticcoast@floridaplanning.org
VP of Continuing Education
Jill Quigley, AICP
954-641-5680
certmaintenance@floridaplanning.org
First Coast Section
Ray Spofford, AICP
904-265-3189
firstcoast@floridaplanning.org
VP Conference Services
Thuy Turner, AICP, LEED AP BD+C
954-610-1633
conferencesvcs@floridaplanning.org
Emerald Coast Section
Randy Woodruff, AICP
850-689-7347
emeraldcoast@floridaplanning.org
Executive Director
Julia “Alex“ Magee
850-201-3272
fapa@floridaplanning.org
Ad. Assistant/Bookkeeper
Amanda Pickles
850-201-3272
adminbk@floridaplanning.org
Communications Director
Patti Shea
850-201-3272
staff@floridaplanning.org
Intern
Kylie Pope
850-201-3272
floridaplanningstaff@gmail.com
Legislative Representative
Lester Abberger
850-524-2779
lesterabberger@nettally.com
Graphic Design (Consultant)
Summer Taylor
727-452-2416
summer@exaktmarketing.com
All other inquiries, contact APA Florida at 850-201-3272 or e-mail fapa@floridaplanning.org. 2 Spring 2022 / Florida Planning
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE As you are reading this, the National Planning Conference is underway in San Diego. This is the first in-person APA national conference in three years, and I am looking forward to networking with planners from around the country (and world) face-to-face. NPC22 also provides an opportunity for your Florida Chapter leadership to meet with APA staff and leadership. Florida is leading the organization on many fronts, including EDI and legislative initiatives. We’ll be sharing our experiences with others, as well as hopefully bringing back some new ideas to enhance our chapter and section activities. Speaking of conferences, the 2022 Florida Planning Conference is just a few months away. The host committee has been lining up keynote speakers, mobile tours, in-depth workshops, and networking opportunities over several months. Our Call for Sessions led to receiving more than 90 submissions, and the committee reviewed the proposals throughout April, and is now building out the conference program. Registration for the conference will open in June, and I look forward to seeing many of you in Orlando in September.
Our Call for Sessions led to receiving more than 90 submissions, and the committee reviewed the proposals throughout April, and is now building out the conference program. That said, there’s no need to wait until September to meet up. Many sections have been holding in-person events over the past few months, and more are in the works. In fact, we are putting together a statewide “planners night out” event in June. This would be a collaborative networking event, with our 12 sections hosting get togethers. Stay tuned for more information. On the legislative front, the 2022 session ended on March 14. While nearly 3,400 bills were filed, only 285 passed both chambers. The chapter’s legislative leadership team worked throughout session to track numerous bills, and in the end, about 20 passed that are expected to affect our profession directly. Thankfully, many bills that would have had negative effects either didn’t pass, or were modified for the better. There is a terrific summary on the various bills on our website. Further, if you aren’t currently on the distribution list, I encourage you to sign up for our Legislative Reporter. Many of you may have seen that APA Florida sent a veto request to Governor DeSantis regarding HB 7. Our AICP Code of Ethics is clear that planners must urge the alteration of policies, institutions, and decisions that do not help meet all residents’ needs, and to recognize and work to mitigate the impacts of existing plans and procedures that result in patterns of discrimination, displacement, or environmental injustice. We are called to recognize our unique responsibility to eliminate historic patterns of inequity tied to planning and institutional decision-making, and to have special concern for the long-range consequences of past and present actions. We are concerned that the law, if enacted, would inhibit an awareness and honest assessment of the historical inequities that have shaped and continue to shape how our communities grow and our residents prosper. The bill’s provisions are ambiguous, subjective, and open to individual interpretation. Finally, this issue includes a draft slate for our Chapter Officer elections, which will occur this summer. I am encouraged that so many people from around the state have expressed interest in joining our statewide leadership, and am confident that we will have a strong Executive Committee for years to come. APA Florida is led by hundreds of volunteers at the state and local level. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved with the Chapter, whether they serve on a state committee, are on a local section board, have provided articles for our newsletters, planned events, etc. If you haven’t participated yet, please consider getting involved. Our sections and committees are always interested in engaging new members.
Wiatt Bowers, AICP Spring 2022 / Florida Planning 3
[GULLAH] GEECHEE
continued from cover
perspective of doing work in and the public about the historic historically excluded communities. significance of the community or The Gullah Geechee people the Gullah Geechee people. are the descendants of enslaved Through the Florida Trust, I had Africans who have traditionally the opportunity to collaborate with lived along the coasts of the National Park Service, Gullah southeastern North Carolina, Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor South Carolina, Georgia, and Commission, City of Jacksonville Northeast Florida. The mixing of Parks & Recreation Department, and these diverse African peoples the Cosmo Preservation Association over time created a unique to designate the community to the culture, which has retained many Florida Trust's 2020 11 to Save African cultural expressions List. This designation helped to that can be experienced in our engender support for additional religious institutions, arts and resources for a range of historic crafts, architecture, music, and and cultural preservation initiatives food. Largely overlooked and for the community, including the The community of Cosmo's Freedom Park misunderstood, Gullah Geechee inclusion of the Palm Springs and other historically excluded Cemetery to the National Register communities across the country of Historic Places, an oral history are threatened by gentrification project with community elders, and and displacement due to not the development of Freedom Park, having equitable representation in a public space dedicated in March many professional fields, including 2022 featuring the first permanent planning and historic preservation. markers commemorating a Gullah They say if you don’t have Geechee community in Jacksonville. a seat at the decision-making table, you are likely on the HISTORIC EASTSIDE menu. As a planner, my message Dating back to 1869, the for historically excluded Eastside is a collection of Gullah communities is “if you don’t have Geechee communities also known a seat at the table, bring your as Out East. Here, initial residents own chair.” were attracted by inexpensive Since that 2017 Florida Trust single and double tenement meeting, here are three Gullah shotgun housing and employment A street market on the Historic Eastside's A. Philip Randolph Blvd. All photo courtesy of Ennis Davis. Geechee neighborhoods in at the docks and sawmills along Jacksonville that I’ve had the the riverfront. Threatened by opportunity to assist residents gentrification, the neighborhood in telling their story through the integration of my roles as a public is engaged in a variety of “withintrification” strategies, where historian, planner, community organizer and board member of APA changes and investments are driven by the current residents Florida and the Florida Trust. instead of outside developers, planners, consultants, and politicians, with the explicit intent to protect the community against COSMO gentrification and displacement. The Gullah Geechee community of Cosmo was established in My involvement with the community includes an ongoing advisory 1877 along the St. Johns River. Since the 1953 completion of the role with efforts to open a nonprofit grocery market and financial Matthews Bridge, suburban development in the once isolated area services center, designating the neighborhood to the National threatens significant historic and cultural resources that would Register of Historic Places, a Florida Main Street program, and provide important protection and generate resources for preservation. implementing a culturally appropriate zoning overlay. All are being This was exacerbated by a lack of awareness among public officials continued on page 5 4 Spring 2022 / Florida Planning
[GULLAH] GEECHEE
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used as a collaboration of intentional tools being realized to protect the community against displacement and stimulate an environment for inclusive and equitable economic development. LAVILLA A USCT civil war campsite, LaVilla was incorporated as a town of its own in 1866 before later being annexed into Jacksonville. A cultural exchange partner with New Orleans, LaVilla emerged as an early epicenter for ragtime, jazz and blues, including being the location of the first published account of blues singing on a public stage in the country in 1910. Ultimately, the neighborhood was largely destroyed by major urban renewal projects but is still recognized as a significant Black cultural landscape for displaced families who continue to reside throughout the city. Initiatives underway here include ongoing efforts for National Register designation, development of a heritage trail system and assisting multiple property owners to locally landmark their sites
as a form of protection against ongoing gentrification and equitable access to financial opportunities to preserve their properties. Additional projects include securing $150 million in local gas tax funding to construct the Emerald Trail System as a Groundwork Jacksonville board member and collaborating with Oakland, Calif. landscape architect Walter Hood and the Jessie Ball duPont Fund to design Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park, a public space honoring two of Jacksonville’s most famous residents, James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson. The Johnson brothers wrote “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” often called the Black National Anthem, at their home in the LaVilla neighborhood between 1900 and 1905 Ennis Davis, AICP, is a senior planner at Alfred Benesch & Co., as well as the cofounder of Modern Cities, which publishes The Jaxson Magazine in collaboration with WJCT. He can be reached at edavis@moderncities.com.
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6 Spring 2022 / Florida Planning
Former home of the First National Bank located at 1200 New York Avenue. Photo by Christine Dalton.
H I S T O R I C
S T.
C L O U D :
Just another day in St. Cloud, Feb. 16, 1911. Photo courtesy of the St. Cloud Heritage Museum.
The Making of a National Register Historic District By Christine Dalton, AICP Historic Preservation is another tool in the planning toolbox that can help to revitalize city centers and convey a community’s sense of place. There is a value to historic designation, as is proven time and time again in historic communities across the state. When we observe communities that have wildly successful and thriving downtowns, we often find that these communities are some of the older places to be established in Florida, and likely have local and National Register historic district designation. Listing in the National Register of Historic Places strengthens community identity and helps citizens and visitors experience a connection to the past. It also has its financial rewards – the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit provides up to a 20 percent income tax credit for certified historic, income-producing buildings. This can be a substantial economic benefit to property owners of commercial buildings and multifamily dwellings, as well as
developers. Property values tend to be higher and more stable in historic districts. Additionally, local businesses benefit from increased tourism and jobs. To obtain the prestigious National Register Historic District designation, a nomination form must be completed by a preparer on behalf of the community, then vetted by the State Historic Preservation Office, who forwards it for review and (hopefully!) approval by the National Park Service. Nominations are complex and delve into multiple aspects of a community’s development, from its social history, built environment, time periods and architectural styles, placement of buildings along the street, number of historic buildings that have been determined to be “contributing”, and much more. Research for nominations is thorough, requiring scouring through old newspapers, public records, and images. It is incredibly continued on page 8
Spring 2022 / Florida Planning 7
[HISTORIC] DISTRICT
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Unplanned stopover? Stay at the St. Cloud Hotel, circa 1915. Photo courtesy of the St. Cloud Heritage Museum.
easy to find oneself “going down the rabbit hole” when working on a nomination because one interesting fact after another reveals itself about the community. St. Cloud is currently in the process of seeking designation for a National Register Historic District. The project has been funded by a Historic Preservation Small-Matching Grant from the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, and the State of Florida.* The history of St. Cloud is unique. It was created by the Grand Army Republic to serve as a retirement community for Union veterans of the Civil War. The downtown streets were named for Union states, such as New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts. As the town expanded, streets were also named for former Confederate states such as Virginia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Numerous architectural styles are represented in St. Cloud, including Frame Vernacular, Masonry Vernacular, Craftsman, Mediterranean Revival, Prairie, Colonial Revival, Folk Victorian, Minimal Traditional, Ranch, and Mid Century Modern. Within the proposed district, approximately 240 historic buildings contribute to its eligibility. Approximately 150 of those buildings were constructed between 1909 and 1929, and another 95 buildings were constructed between 1936 and 1970. St. Cloud’s history, variety in architecture, and quantity of contributing historic buildings establishes a solid foundation for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. It will be wonderful to watch this historic community grow and thrive in the coming years, as it realizes the benefits of historic district designation. Christine Dalton, AICP, is an adjunct instructor at Seminole State College of Florida and Rollins College as well as a trustee for the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. She can be reached at christine@christinedalton.com.
8 Spring 2022 / Florida Planning
* Grant #22.h.sm.400.040 “St. Cloud National Register Historic District”, awarded to St. Cloud Mainstreet.
Spring 2022 / Florida Planning 9
centering equity & resilience IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HISTORIC PRESERVATION By Adrienne Burke, AICP, Esq. and Sarah Cody
The Miami-Dade County Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) is centering equity and resilience in its preservation program, recognizing that preservation must change in order to best serve our communities.
iated by Miam Lodge, design ks El e ity C nc y rt ca Libe l signifi 21 for cultura 20 in y nt ou C Dade
Deering Estate, site of sea-level rise pilot project in 2022-23
10 Spring 2022 / Florida Planning
While architectural preservation is important, our view must be broadened to include larger planning issues. OHP’s Ten Year Plan highlights equity and resilience as guiding principles in our practice. The National Register of Historic Places has only 8 percent of listed sites associated with women or racial/ethnic minorities. In 2020, the county conducted a review of county-designated historic continued on page 11
[EQUITY] & RESILIENCE
continued from page 10
sites to ascertain what diverse representation was included here. Consistent with state and national trends, sites here are not reflective of county demographics and history. As an example, Miami-Dade is 70 percent Hispanic/Latinx, and only one percent of designated sites reflect this heritage. This review led OHP to create a presentation about diversity in preservation and archaeology, local and state data, and options for emphasizing equity in preservation work. OHP has shared the presentation at local, state, and national levels. OHP is also leading by example internally, expanding this work around planning and zoning, and sharing with County Planning and Development Services staff. Especially important to equitable preservation is the flexibility of local preservation ordinances to allow designation of sites beyond architecture. Typically, local ordinances focus primarily on architectural significance. However, the county’s preservation ordinance allows for designation of sites based on cultural significance or themes in history. This is a major asset in moving towards a more equitable preservation program, allowing the county to landmark sites for more than architecture. OHP is currently undertaking a historic resource survey related to Miami-Dade’s diverse heritage and places under pressure due to gentrification and climate change. This survey will help identify sites significant to our unique communities and provide a historic context that will aid in future designations. As part of this work, the county will engage with the community and learn what sites are important to them. This survey will be completed by Spring 2023. Resilience planning is a necessity in Miami-Dade. Historic properties have different needs than newer buildings, but it is more than just making a building disaster-ready. Historic properties make up the identity and soul of a community and are often significant contributors to the economy. The county’s first step in integrating historic resources into climate change planning was performing a historic site vulnerability assessment in 2019. Vulnerability assessments evaluate the impact of sea level rise and resources that may be affected. Our assessment looks at sea level rise impacts on locally designated historic resources. The assessment also included recommendations for future work. One such project, Resilient Rehab: A Guide for Historic Buildings in Miami-Dade County, is a newly adopted design guidelines document that balances traditional historic preservation standards with the realities we face in preserving our coastal community. Other recommendations included documentation of sites and preparation of a sea level rise pilot project at the Deering Estate, the second most vulnerable site in Miami-Dade. Thanks to a state grant, OHP will work in coordination with the Deering Estate Foundation and the University of Florida to undertake a documentation and community engagement pilot project beginning this summer.
A Guide for Historic Buildings in Miami-Dade County
The county’s preservation program is now 40 years old. We have an opportunity to highlight the rich histories of our community and take into account changing realities like sea level rise. As the county preservation program approaches its 50th anniversary, now is the time to shift the approach to be more inclusive and resilient, recognizing the diversity and vulnerability of heritage in Miami-Dade. Adrienne Burke, AICP, Esq. is a Principal Planner for Miami-Dade County. She can be reached at adrienne.burke@miamidade.gov. Sarah Cody is the Chief of the Miami-Dade County Office of Historic Preservation. She can be reached at sarah.cody@miamidade.gov.
Spring 2022 / Florida Planning 11
Working to Create a State Historic Tax Credit TO PRESERVE HISTORIC PLACES, REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES AND DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH Melissa Wyllie
Being inside Ybor City’s last surviving cigar factory is wonderful. The sweet smell of dried tobacco floats along on air kept humid to best work the tobacco. In the hand-rolled cigar room the stand where el lector read while workers rolled remains, and all around you are 112-year-old bricks and tall windows looking out on a Tampa that has changed dramatically over time. The 111-year-old J.C. Newman Cigar Factory, located in El Reloj building in the Ybor City National Historic Landmark District, could have benefited from a Florida historic tax credit. If passed, the credit could help promote further rehabilitation of buildings in Ybor City.
The J.C. Newman Cigar Factory is in the 112-year-old El Reloj Building, which is located in the Ybor City National Historic Landmark District. It was carefully restored in 2020, a labor of love for the family that owns it, a point of pride for Ybor and a real economic driver for the community. However, the benefit could have been even bigger for this and preservation projects throughout the state if Florida offered a statewide historic tax credit to incentivize the restoration of historic buildings. During the 2022 Florida Legislative Session the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation worked to introduce and support SB 1310: The Main Street Tourism and Historic Revitalization Act, along with its companion HB 247. The Main Street Tourism and Historic Revitalization Act would have created a Florida historic tax credit that would revitalize Florida Main Street communities, support heritage tourism, create good paying jobs, and bring vacant and underused historic buildings back to life. The Florida Senate Committee on Finance and Tax which voted unanimously to support the bill and the committee Vice Chair Senator Janet Cruz said, “Ybor City in Tampa was indeed the mecca for cigar factories at the turn of the century … and many, many, many of those buildings have crumbled to the ground. It always breaks my heart when I visit other cities outside of Florida and wonder how they have continued on page 13
Humidity being piped into the hand-rolled cigar room of the J.C. Newman Cigar Factory in Ybor City
12 Spring 2022 / Florida Planning
[HISTORIC] TAX CREDIT
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managed to maintain these spectacular buildings that we haven’t. So, I think this is a wonderful step in the right direction.” Although the legislation was heard favorably by both chambers, unfortunately it did not meet the final cut in Senate budget negotiations and did not pass. However, bill sponsors State Rep. Michelle Salzman and State Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez have said they would like to again cosponsor the legislation during the 2023 session to successfully guide it through passage. The Florida Trust will be working until then to continue collaborating with our partners and stakeholders to again support this important preservation legislation. We are working on education programs, outreach initiatives and legislative advocacy strategy. If you would like to help, consider visiting your legislators this summer while they are in their home office. This is a wonderful way to not only talk about the benefit of a historic tax credit, but to encourage them to experience firsthand the history of the community they represent. And remember: 2022 is an election year with all 120 State Representatives and 40 State Senate seats up for election. Remind all candidates that working to protect and preserve communities is a good way to get to Tallahassee.
The Florida Trust Legislative Outreach team meeting with Representative Tracie Davis. Melissa Wyllie presenting the case for more historic preservation incentives.
Melissa Wyllie is the CEO & President of the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. She can be reached at mwyllie@floridatrust.org.
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Spring 2022 / Florida Planning 13
Cigar City History: Tampa’s 110-Year-Old Union Station is Ready for Showtime By Brandie Miklus, AICP
Tampa Union Station is about people’s stories. Stories of their first time taking a train or their first time seeing Tampa. The station is a hidden gem within Downtown Tampa, yet it is also one of Tampa’s front doors. However, with the rapid growth and evolution of our friendly city, including Water Street, Channel District, GasWorx, and Encore, Tampa Union Station will be hidden no more. At 110 years old, Tampa Union Station is one of the few historic buildings in Tampa that still serves its original purpose. It has seen millions of travelers pass through its doors since its 1912 opening – from servicemen and women to families on vacation, to college kids setting out on their own. Once threatened with demolition, the train station got a second chance in 1998 and reopened its doors to the traveling public following a multimillion-dollar restoration. More than a train station, Tampa Union Station has been a landmark for generations of Tampa travelers and residents. Located at 601 North Nebraska Ave. in Downtown Tampa near Ybor City, Union Station opened May 15, 1912, with its iconic Italian Renaissance Revival style. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, today Tampa Union Station serves Amtrak passengers traveling north to New York, south to Miami, and those who visit it to learn more about Tampa’s past. Originally built by the railroads that helped to create modern Florida, Union Station is now owned by the City of Tampa. It is the 14 Spring 2022 / Florida Planning
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[CIGAR CITY] HISTORY
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third largest transportation facility in the city, as well as the third busiest Amtrak station in the state, with approximately 150,000 passengers a year. What are the latest restoration efforts? Due to a Hillsborough County Historic Preservation Challenge Grant as well as generous donations from the late John McQuigg, a dedicated and passionate Florida passenger train advocate, Tampa Union Station’s historic Baggage Building restoration is nearly complete. The floor is being restored with period pavers from a City of Tampa storage yard, the windows are being replaced, and the building is also getting new fire sprinklers and HVAC. We expect the restoration project to be wrapped up by this summer. Once it is, we will need to show it off, and you’re invited! What does the future hold? Besides the Baggage Building’s ongoing restoration, a major focus for Friends of Tampa Union Station is the pursuit of grant opportunities that can help put the station in a state of good repair. If we can get the station’s basic needs addressed, we will be in good shape for the future – whatever that future might look like. Preserving the past, ensuring its future Friends of Tampa Union Station, a not-for-profit group of volunteers, works to raise funds for the Tampa Union Station endowment fund at the Community Foundation Tampa Bay, which supports ongoing restoration and maintenance projects at this historic landmark. To date, $292,000 of endowment funds have been raised. The group also helps organize Tampa Train Day festivities at Tampa Union Station, typically held the second Saturday in May in honor of the station’s birthday.
Getting the community excited about trains and transportation is just one benefit of the station. Photos courtesy of Friends of Tampa Union Station.
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Brandie Miklus is a volunteer board member and President of Friends of Tampa Union Station. She can be reached at brandie.miklus@gmail.com.
Spring 2022 / Florida Planning 15
Nominations by Petition for APA Florida 2022 Elections Pursuant to the Chapter Bylaws, the Nominating Committee has presented the proposed election slate (see below) to the APA Florida Executive Committee. Nominations for any office may be added to this slate by petition of at least twenty members. Petition forms may be downloaded here or obtained by contacting the Chapter Office at fapa@ floridaplanning.org. Please submit the petition forms to the 2022 Nominating Committee c/o APA Florida, 2017 Delta Boulevard, Suite 201, Tallahassee, FL, 32303, or by emailing fapa@floridaplanning.org, by 5 pm EST on June 1, 2022. Each petition form should clearly identify the proposed candidate and office for which their name is being offered. Each member signing the petition form must both print and sign their name and must include their membership number. If you have any questions about the petition process, please contact the chapter office.
2022 APA Florida Election Slate
2022 APA Florida Election Slate Secretary: Karla Ebenbach, AICP / Jill Quigley, AICP VP-Membership and Outreach: Ennis Davis, AICP / Sofia Garantiva, AICP / Douglas Kelly, AICP VP-Section Affairs: Alexis Crespo, AICP / Ali Palmer VP-Professional Development: Stephen Benson, AICP / Henry Bittaker, FAICP VP-Continuing Education: Ali Ankudowich, AICP / Lara Bouck, AICP / Michelle Heinrich, AICP
President-Elect: Charles Barmby, AICP / Allara Mills-Gutcher, AICP
VP-Communications: John Cooper / Amy Elmore, AICP
Treasurer: Kathleen Ebaugh, AICP / John Roach, AICP
VP-Conference Services: Edward Ng, AICP / Roxann Read, AICP
16 Spring 2022 / Florida Planning
florida planning conference 2022
MOBILE TOURS ORLANDO l SEPTEMBER 6 - 9, 2022 We’re excited to present to you the mobile tours that will be hosted during the 2022 Florida Planning Conference in Orlando. Tours on tap will pique the interest of anyone interested in complete streets, parks, urban agriculture, downtown or historic preservation planning. Take a look! AGRICULTURE IN THE CITY Did you know that Florida produces the second highest value of vegetables in the United States? As Florida’s population continues to surge, we have more people to feed than ever before with a limited supply of land and farmers. Farms in urbanizing counties face special challenges making it difficult to find sustainable long-term solutions. Farms grow more than just food. Landscape plants and houseplants are big business in Florida, too! We will tour farms big and small, rural, and urban, and learn about the challenges, successes, and opportunities to plan for feeding a growing Florida! COMPLETE STREETS TOUR This mobile tour will feature some of the latest complete streets projects in Central Florida, built by the cities of Casselberry and Winter Park. The tour will include (in order): North Oxford Road and Casselton Drive in Casselberry, and Denning Drive in Winter Park. These projects were the result of multi-year efforts that culminated in the “right-sizing” and enhancement of these streets to improve safety and comfort for people walking and biking. The tour will include three walking tours to highlight the features of the projects, contrast them with previous conditions, and identify future opportunities. HANNIBAL SQUARE NEIGHBORHOOD: HOW PLANNING IMPACTS AND ADDRESSES GENTRIFICATION, REDEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND HISTORICAL CULTURAL RETENTION AND RECOGNITION IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR Since its creation in 1881, the Hannibal Square neighborhood has served as a residential as well as cultural, social, and faithbased nuclei for Blacks in Winter Park and Central Florida. In 1887, Hannibal Square was included in the original plat for Winter Park,
with voters from Hannibal Square being vital to approving the city’s incorporation. Also, two Black Hannibal Square residents were elected to the City Commission in 1887. This inaugural and auspicious start has not been replicated by a Black candidate since. Today, Hannibal Square is a neighborhood affected by and responding to multiple, planning maelstroms that also are impacting communities of color in Florida and nationally. These include, but are not limited to, how to: maintain and provide affordable housing options; retain the historic and cultural integrity of the community; navigate redevelopment and revitalization outcomes intended to redress blight determinations from a Community Redevelopment Agency while also averting gentrification; and foster and support meaningful residents’ engagement with the city and other partners. The Hannibal Square tour will afford attendees the opportunity to learn from representatives of several community-based organizations about their past, present, and proposed activities on behalf of Hannibal Square residents and the diaspora in Central Florida. DOWNTOWN ORLANDO ENTERTAINMENT VENUES AND CREATIVE VILLAGE “Build them all. Build them now.” was the chant when the City of Orlando and Orange County voted to spend $1.1 billion dollars for a new arena, a new performing arts center, and a renovation of the Citrus Bowl stadium. Fifteen years later the plan has come to full fruition. Steinmetz Hall, the new benchmark in acoustic theaters, opened this year completing the vision for the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center, and the Citrus Bowl, now Camping World Stadium, is completing its second renovation. Join us on a tour of the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center, the Amway Arena, home of the NBA’s Orlando Magic, Exploria Stadium, home of the MLS’s Orlando City Soccer Club, and Creative Village, the redeveloped former arena and performing arts center site that is now home of the University of Central Florida’s downtown campus, Electronic Arts Regional Headquarters and Luminary Green. continued on page 18
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[MOBILE] TOURS
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THE GRAND PARKS TOUR This mobile tour will feature some notable, high impact parks projects in Central Florida. The tour will include: the Rolling Hills Park Site still under development; Crane’s Roost Park in Altamonte Springs; and the Boombah Sports Complex in Sanford. Each park is of a very different type: a former golf course redeveloping into a public passive park; an ‘urban’ park; and a tournament-quality ballfield complex. However, each of these projects have a strong common thread – each contributes greatly to the quality of life of residents, and each has a measurable economic impact to the community. The tour will include three short walking tours to highlight the features of the projects, a discussion of the evolution of each, and how each plays a part in the economic vitality of Seminole County and Central Florida. DOWNTOWN WINTER GARDEN – URBAN LIVING ROOMS Winter Garden’s historic downtown has experienced a renaissance over the past 30 years, transforming from a blighted area known locally as “Winter Garbage” into a charming, vibrant downtown that is beloved by residents and visitors alike. Part of the city’s redevelopment strategy has involved activating the urban realm by creating a series of comfortable outdoor spaces that entice visitors to stay and engage. This placemaking strategy of creating a series of “outdoor living rooms” will be explored on the walking tour, covering several locations in Historic Downtown including the Splash Pad, Plant Street Market, Downtown Fountain, the SOBO Art Gallery, and more. ORLANDO WETLANDS PARK This mobile tour will feature an internationally renowned, successful reconstructed wetland project. Spread across 1,650 acres, the park provides advanced treatment for approximately 14 million gallons of reclaimed water daily, and habitat for multiple wildlife, including birds (more than 230 species), deer, turtles, and alligators. The guided tour, led by the park manager, will begin with a brief overview of the park’s creation and function in the Education Trailer, with an opportunity to see permanent and
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seasonal exhibits. Then tour members will explore the park on a truck-pulled trailer to see the inflows and outflows; the transition of wetland cells from vegetated deep marsh, mixed marsh, to hardwood swamp; and the abundance of flora and fauna. REIMAGINING MOBILITY IN LAKE NONA Lake Nona is one of the fastest growing and most innovative places in America. Key to Lake Nona’s success is Tavistock’s focus on innovation and mobility. This tour will familiarize attendees with Lake Nona’s Town Center and its Local Area Mobility Network, demonstrate how autonomous vehicles and other multi-modal components will tie into existing and future infrastructure, and how these efforts are integrated with Lake Nona’s overall sustainability efforts. The tour will include a ride on Lake Nona’s fleet of autonomous shuttles and a presentation on what will be the country’s first eVTOL vertiport hub.
FPC22 411 • We are convening Sept. 6 -9 at the Hilton Destination Parkway in Orlando. • Keep up news and announcements at floridaplanningconference.org. • Registration will open mid-June. • Don’t forget to submit applications for the 2022 Project Awards, which are due May 9! • Interesting in becoming a FPC22 sponsor? Check out all the sponsorship benefits here.
See you in Orlando!
APA Florida
PLANNERS ON THE MOVE Congratulations to the 2022 Florida Class of Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners These planners exhibit exceptional leadership, innovation, and excellence, creating a legacy for their community, and exceptional accomplishments in planning over the extent of their careers. Recognition of these professionals as model planners who have made significant contributions to planning and society is shown by the AICP by elevating them among their peers and the public by inducting them into the College of Fellows. They will be inducted during the National Planning Conference in May.
Lucia Garsys, FAICP
James LaRue, FAICP
Friederike Mittner, FAICP
On behalf of APA Florida and your colleagues in Florida and elsewhere, thank you, Florida Class of 2022, for inspiring us to do better, to contribute more, and to advance planning as a profession and within our communities by leading by example. Learn more about the exceptional qualifications of the 2022 Florida Class of Fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners here.
BRISOLARA LANDS AT NEPTUNE BEACH Samantha Brisolara was recently named the new Community Development Director for the City of Neptune Beach. She has experience with coastal and rural communities as well as federal planning with the Department of the Navy. May is a busy month for Samantha as she will graduate from University of Florida’s Master of Urban and Regional Planning program this month and will sit for the AICP exam. Best of luck, Samantha! CANARY JOINS S&ME’S TAMPA OFFICE Laura Canary, CEcD, FRA-RP, joins S&ME as a Project Manager where she will focus on Redevelopment Planning and Economic Development in the firm’s Tampa office. Laura has more than 20 years of experience working in local government, including the cites of Clearwater and Pinellas Park. She is committed to growing and enhancing vibrant, sustainable communities. Laura holds a Bachelor Degree in Mass Communications and a Master Degree in Public Administration from the University of South Florida. She is a Certified Economic Developer and Redevelopment Administrator. COCHELLA PROMOTED BY LAKE WALES Autumn Cochella, AICP, was promoted to Assistant Director of Development Services with the City of Lake Wales. Autumn’s background and education is in public administration, but she tran-
Luis Nieves-Ruiz, FAICP
Kristine Williams, FAICP
Melissa E. Zornitta, FAICP
sitioned into a planning technician position roughly seven years ago. According to Autumn, “It took very little time at all for me to realize I had found my purpose as a public servant. As soon as I decided that I was a planner, I knew I’d become an AICP Planner as soon as I was eligible. A few years later I was promoted to Development Services Manager, before being promoted again to Assistant Director of Development shortly after obtaining my AICP designation in December of 2021. My role has progressed from what was initially just development review, to now managing multiple disciplines under the Development umbrella, including Code Compliance, CRA, Building Division, and Planning personnel and processes. I still get my hands on development review as often as I can but am also enjoying the challenges of an evolving leadership role.” GRIFFIN HEADING TO GRESHAM SMITH’S ATLANTA OFFICE Tyler Griffin is slated to join Gresham Smith’s Atlanta office to work on transportation planning. Tyler has been with the Lee County Department of Community Development, where she focused on long-range planning and historic preservation, for the past three years. In 2019, Tyler graduated from Florida State University with a Master in Urban and Regional Planning. She diligently served as APA Florida’s graduate student intern during her time at FSU. Atlanta is lucky to have you, Tyler! continued on page 20
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[ON] THE MOVE
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HASKELL COMPANY TAPS JONES TO LEAD ITS NEW DESIGN STUDIO Fred N. Jones, AICP, has joined The Haskell Company to lead its newly formed Planning + Design Collaborative as director. Jones brings more than 20 years’ experience in transportation planning, complete streets, urban design, placemaking, transit accessibility and public engagement to his new role within Haskell’s Infrastructure & Transportation space. Fred has been working in professional planning and project management since 2002. He sits on multiple committees, like the National Complete Streets Coalition Steering Committee and Jacksonville’s Downtown Development Review Board, where he was a former chairman. Most recently, Jones served as Vice Mayor of Neptune Beach, which was recognized as having one of the best Complete Streets Policies of 2018. With this new “Collaborative”, Fred is looking to expand Haskell’s image as a design-build pioneer and leader, targeting client work ahead of the final design and construction phase to initiate opportunities around planning, policy, equity, and technology. Fred launched his career after earning a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of South Florida and a Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning from Florida State University. RAASCH NAMED GROUP LEADER FOR S&ME’S ORLANDO OFFICE Eric Raasch, AICP, joins S&ME as the Planning Group Leader in the firm’s Orlando office. Prior to joining S&ME, Eric spent 10 years with Orange County, including the last three years as the county’s Planning Administrator. As Group Leader, Eric will oversee the firm’s statewide planning efforts, with a focus on traditional town planning and redevelopment. Eric holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Economics) from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Real Estate Development from the University of Maryland, College Park. STATEN GRADUATES UF, NAMED STUDENT OF THE YEAR Elisabeth Staten will be graduating from the University of Florida this spring with a Master of Urban and Regional Planning. There, Elisabeth was named the program’s APA Outstanding student of the year. After graduation, Elisabeth is moving to Saint Petersburg to pursue a career in transportation planning. Congratulations, Elisabeth!
SWIFT MOVES TO BE PLANNING DIRECTOR FOR BBE-BOGGS Susan Swift, AICP, will be making the move from Colliers Engineering & Design to BBE-Boggs Engineering LLC as its first Director of Planning. Boggs is a civil engineering and architecture firm based in Plant City. In her new role, Susan will be handling entitlements for development clients, expert witness work for public sector eminent domain projects, and business development to expand the firm’s public sector clientele. URWILLER JOINS CITY OF SANFORD Heather M. Urwiller, AICP, CFM, was named Planning Manager for the City of Sanford. Her responsibilities include working with an amazing planning team to support all city planning initiatives and special projects. Heather has 17 years of experience in public and private sector planning. She holds a Master Degree of Urban and Regional Planning and is a certified floodplain manager. Heather is continuing her work in private practice on a contract basis and currently serves as a co-chair of the Orlando Metro Section’s Women in Planning Group. WOELLNER NAMED PLANNER III FOR NORTH PORT Katherine Woellner, AICP, has joined the City of North Port planning team as a Planner III. Katherine is a public-sector planner with experience in city- and county-level government and currently serves as Secretary of the Calusa Chapter of the Florida Planning and Zoning Association. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political and social sciences from Florida State University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Central Florida. Katherine also expects to officially graduate from Cornell University’s Master of Regional Planning program this spring after finally completing her master’s thesis entitled, Planning for Inequality: Planners’ Role in Creating the ‘Failure Factories’ of South St. Petersburg, which examines how the planning profession has impacted residential segregation over the last century. EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA RCP PROMOTIONS Tara McCue, AICP, has been recently tapped as the new Executive Director for the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council. Starting as an intern in 2003, she has worked across several of the ECFRPC’s program areas including playing an instrumental role in development of the region’s resiliency efforts. continued on page 23
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APA FLORIDA WORKING FOR YOU LEGISLATIVE SESSION ACTION The APA Florida Legislative Policy Committee worked tirelessly to monitor the thousands of bills during the Florida Legislative Session that ended on March 14. In line with the AICP Code of Ethics, and with coordination and support from the chapter’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, a veto request was sent to Governor DeSanits regarding House Bill 7. Read the letter here. A full summary of all the bills in this legislative session can be found here or you can watch a webinar outlining the session here. Note that you can still receive on-demand Law CM if you did not attend the webinar.
EDI COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES The APA Florida Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee hosted three trainings and forums for the membership. To assist interested members with submitting to the APA Florida Conference, the EDI Committee hosted Crafting a Stellar Proposal on April 12 for those who wanted to submit a panel proposal for the upcoming Florida Planning Conference in Orlando. Don’t miss Empowering a Growing Population of Aging Adults and Individuals with Disabilities via Autonomous Vehicle Technology, which has experts discussing how AV technology can help Florida’s aging population and persons with disabilities. Watch this event here. Additionally, the committee hosted a What the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Committee Can Do for You to share progress and milestones and get feedback on the EDI Strategy for all participants. Watch this webinar here. Finally, the EDI Committee has set up its own LinkedIn group. Get the latest committee news and event updates here. You can always visit their page on the chapter website, too!
EMPOW-HER FOR WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH The Orlando Metro Section’s Women & Planning Group, with support from other chapter sections, and the EDI Committee, celebrated Women’s History Month with a forum on Female Pow-Her in Planning – Planning and Women: People, Places, and Prosperity on March 29. You can watch the webinar here.
NEW IG AND LINKEDIN PROFILES APA Florida’s communication tools are expanding – check out the chapter’s new social media presence on Instagram at @apa_florida. Also, the chapter’s Emerging Planners Group started its own LinkedIn group. Please follow it here.
EXCITING THINGS ARE HAPPENING! The APA Florida Executive Committee met in-person in Orlando on April 22 to discuss multiple topics – look for updates on these soon! • • • •
Tracking progress on our Strategic Operating Plan Enhancing our communications and outreach efforts Revamping the Great Places of Florida program Launching APA Florida’s Community Planning Assistance Teams (CPAT) program • Scheduling statewide “Planners Night Out” event for late spring
NATIONAL SERVICE Alissa Barber Torres, FAICP, PhD, has been appointed to a one-year term on the American Planning Association’s College of Fellows Committee. She joins Merle Bishop, FAICP, who has served on the College of Fellows Committee since April 2019. The College of Fellows Committee is responsible for determining the Selection Committee for the 2024 cycle and for reviewing recommendations on resolving the most significant barriers to pursuing the FAICP designation, expanding and diversifying the pool of qualified applicants, and providing appropriate application support. Lara Bouck, AICP, PE, and Alissa are serving on a series of American Planning Association task forces to update the AICP Certification exam for current practice and to incorporate an equity, diversity and inclusion lens. Lara and Alissa participated in review of AICP Certification exam eligibility requirements, task and knowledge statements, job functions, and test questions. This effort will conclude with an update of standards by June 2022. Alissa and Lara are members of the APA Florida Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee.
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[CONSULTANTS] DIRECTORY Advertise in the Consultants Directory The Consultant Directory is a fitting place to showcase your firm. $250 buys space for a year in the newsletter (five issues) plus inclusion in our web-based consultant directory. Display ads to promote your business, conference, projects and more are available. Contact the Chapter office at 850-201-3272 for rates and details.
In a Livable Community, people of all ages can make their town or city a lifelong home. Learn about what’s happening in Florida. Contact Laura Cantwell at lcantwell@aarp.org.
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[ON] THE MOVE
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Tara holds a Master of Environmental Resource Management from the Florida Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Marine Biology from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington. Lori Cox was recently promoted to Planning Manager. With close to 20 years of planning experience, Lori’s work has focused on transportation, regional resiliency, and comprehensive planning. She has a Master of Science in Urban & Regional Planning from Florida State University. Laura Lockwood-Herrscher, AICP joined Stantec as a Senior Transportation Planner and Project Manager where her primary focus will be growing the planning practice in the municipal government area and assisting FDOT’s District 5’s planning and environmental division. ON THE MOVE QUICKTAKES • Jasmine Khammany started with the City of Lake Wales as a Senior Planner. • Chandra Frederick retired as Assistant County Manager with Polk County. All the best for a grand retirement, Chandra! • Parag Agrawal is the new Executive Director for the Polk TPO.
• John Bohde, AICP, promoted to Division Director Office of Planning and Development • Amy Palmer, AICP is the new Assistant City Manager with City of Auburndale. THREE OMS MEMBERS NAMED TOP 40 UNDER 40 BY THE OBJ Congratulations to the three APA Florida Orlando Metro Section members for their recent selection to the Orlando Business Journal’s 2022 40 Under 40 list. • Patrick Panza, AICP, currently works as Assistant Planning Manager for GAI Consultants. • Carmen Rasnick, MBA, CNU-A, is a Fiscal Manager for the City of Orlando and currently serves as the OMS’s Treasurer. • Alexander Trauger is the manager of Transportation Planning for Metro Plan Orlando. Well done and thank you all for raising the profile of planning in the Metro Orlando area!
Patrick Panza, AICP
Carmen Rasnick, MBA, CNU-A
Alexander Trauger
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[FLORIDA] PLANNING Published by the Florida Chapter, American Planning Association, the Florida Planning newsletter has a current circulation of 3,200 members, subscribers and other readers. Four issues are published a year.
CHANGES OF ADDRESS For APA members, Send to: Member Records Department American Planning Association 205 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 1200 Chicago, IL 60601 Fax: 312-786-6700 or log onto www.planning.org/myapa
ARTICLES Florida Planning welcomes articles, announcements, letters, pictures and advertising. Call 850-201-3272 regarding articles. The next issue will be published July 2022.
DEADLINES Article deadlines are generally four weeks prior to publication. Ad deadlines are generally two weeks prior to publication. Consult the editor for any exception to this schedule.
ABOUT THE CHAPTER APA Florida is a non-profit organization funded through membership dues and fees. Contributions are also welcomed for general purposes and earmarked programs. Please note that contributions are not tax deductible. For news and information on chapter concerns, visit the APA Florida website at florida planning.org. APA Florida 2017 Delta Boulevard, Suite 201 Tallahassee, FL 32303 Phone: 850-201-3272 Fax: 850-807-2576
[THANK YOU] TO OUR ANNUAL SPONSORS
[UPCOMING] EVENTS MAY 5 & 28: BIKE RIDE WITH A PLANNER Tallahassee. Hosted by the Capital Area Section. You have two changes to get a tour of projects throughout the Capital City to commemorate Bike to Work Month. The section is hosting two rides, one on May 5 and another on May 28. Grab your helmet and hop on for what is sure to be a fun tour! Free. CMs for both events. MAY 17: PLANNING AND THE JEWISH TRADITION: A ROAD MAP FOR EMERGENT JEWISH COMMUNITIES Webinar. Hosted by the APA Florida EDI Committee. Traditional Jewish communities are developing rapidly. Drawing especially from New Urbanism, Rabbi Dr. Abraham Unger, a Rabbi who has worked in the urban economic development space for over a decade, will explore this fast-growing aspect of housing and commercial growth while also acknowledging historic Jewish approaches to planning. Information here. Free. 1.5 CM. MAY 20: PLANNING FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES: CONSIDER A NURSE Webinar. AARP Florida, APA Florida, and the Nurses on Boards Coalition are working together to pilot a new project to build healthier communities across Florida. Learn how the three organizations are working to highlight the value that nurses can bring to local decisions and to identify local government boards and committees that could benefit from the special skills and perspective that nurses bring to create opportunities for healthy planning in communities. Information here. Free. 1.5 CM. JUNE 1-2: UPHOLDING EQUITY IN PLANNING: A WORKSHOP FOR ADVANCING URBAN PLANNING PRINCIPLES Webinar. APA Florida is hosting this workshop that focuses on planners’ tools and strategies to address disparities and increase equity and inclusion in planning agencies and in the communities they serve. The workshop will provide the framework and resources for planners to take action to create more equitable and just communities. Information here. 7.5 CM + Equity CM. AUG. 29-31: ANNUAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING CONFERENCE Orlando. The Florida Housing Coalition’s Annual Conference attracts more than 900 affordable housing advocates, lenders, developers, administrators, and policy makers. The annual conference offers trainings from the nuts and bolts of housing to cutting edge training and an opportunity to learn from a broad range of experts. Information here. For more information on these and other APA Florida events, please visit florida.planning.org/calendar/