Main Street: Where the tiled sidewalk ends?

The city of Sarasota’s Downtown Improvement District (DID) and its Public Art Committee want to restore and preserve aging ceramic tiles that were placed in the Main Street sidewalk two years ago. They also plan to install the tiles in other sections of the downtown sidewalk.

But the project can only move forward if a Main Street streetscape project doesn’t require the existing sidewalk, where the tiles now sit, to be torn up.

At the Oct. 4 board of directors meeting, Sarasota resident and Public Art Committee board member George Haborak said his committee is disappointed with the aging and cracking art tiles that were placed in the sidewalk between Orange Avenue and Lemon Avenue.

Noting that the 33 16-inch-by-16-inch ceramic tiles created by local artists were installed two years ago to add color to the sidewalks, Haborak said he’s disappointed with how the tiles look today.

“We spent about $10,000 (approximately $250 per tile) to create designs for the tiles and place them 30 feet apart from each other in the sidewalk,” Haborak said. “Now, some are already cracking and falling apart.”

Haborak believes the reason is because local artists designed the tiles individually and there was no uniformity in how they were created and shaped in a kiln.

“I think it’s a learning experience for us as we move forward with the project for other sections of Main Street,” Haborak said. “But my concern is how does the Main Street streetscape project affect the tiles and will the existing sidewalk be ripped up?”

DID Chairman Ernie Ritz said he didn’t know the answer.

“I, too, was disappointed with the tiles, which are missing pieces and cracked,” Ritz said. “But I doubt we will ever tear out the existing sidewalks as part of the project.”

Ritz suggested the DID work with the art board to find ways to upgrade the existing tiles so they don’t get damaged easily.

Haborak said the committee planned to work with the local artists to make repairs and create a more uniform project in the future.

“I can envision creating a design and finding a tile contractor to create them all in a professional manner for future segments,” Haborak said.

In the meantime, Ritz said he will make sure the issue is brought up to residents and business owners at a 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, Main Street streetscape workshop at City Hall. The public will have the opportunity to shape the project, which includes plans to upgrade Main Street, and define how the downtown historic district should look.

City officials, however, warned that the broad streetscape project, which includes concepts such as brick streets and new street lamps, could mean the sidewalks might need to be torn up.

Ritz and others, however, cringed when they heard that.

“That would be a nightmare for downtown merchants,” Ritz said.