News Briefs

+ State Street garage designs presented, delayed
Karin Murphy and Andrew Georgiadis, the city’s Urban Design Studio team, presented a series of potential designs for the State Street garage at Monday’s City Commission meeting.

The designs provided a variety of options for the garage’s commercial space. One allowed for retail frontage on the ground floor only; two allowed for the sale of the air rights above the building, which could produce a garage of up to 10 stories with multiple commercial floors at the top; and one would create a “pad parcel” retail building next to the garage at State Street and Lemon Avenue.

A final option would result in six-story garage with a 20-foot arcade, retail on the ground floor only and residential liner buildings fronting the parking.

After the presentation, the commission did not get an opportunity to delve into details. City Attorney Robert Fournier requested the discussion be continued at the next meeting, so he has an opportunity to speak with representatives from Pineapple Square.

A lease agreement with Pineapple Square requires the city to complete the garage by February 2015; Fournier said he would clarify some questions about that contract before the Oct. 21 meeting.

+ City to negotiate for Burns Square lot
At Monday’s City Commission meeting, commissioners directed staff to continue to negotiate an agreement that would re-establish the city’s lease of a Burns Square parking lot, located at Orange Avenue and Laurel Street.

The city’s lease of the lot expired July 25, a move that created an outcry from Burns Square business owners. After a series of meetings with Burns Square stakeholders and an earlier discussion with the commission, city staff determined the best plan of action would be to lease the lot again.

The lot would cost $1,800 per month to lease. Deputy City Manager Marlon Brown said the city would establish an employee parking permit system within the lot to help cover some expenses.

Meetings & Agendas
The Sarasota Board of County Commissioners and Manatee County Commission Joint Meeting — 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, Brandon Area Convention Center, 1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto.

Development Review Committee Meeting — 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16, Room 112, City Hall, 1565 First St, Sarasota.