1. 1 TriBoard Workshop Wednesday, January 22, 2003 Economic Development Board Historic Preservation Board Planning and Zoning Board

2. 2 North Ponce de Leon Study area North:S.W. 8th Street South:Navarre Avenue East:Douglas Road West:LeJeune Road

3. 3 Purpose of Meeting ► Solicit input on issues from each Boards perspective ► Educate City Staff and each Board on issues as they relate to the following:  Economic Development Standpoint  Historic Preservation perspective  Planning and Zoning Issues ► Solicit public input

4. 4 North Ponce de Leon Boulevard Studies Completed ► Area has been the subject of 3 previous studies:  1994 - Findings and Recommendations of the Douglas Apartment District Task Force (Attachment A)  1998 – Draft North Ponce District Zoning Review (Attachment B)  2002 – Coral Gables Charrette Report (North Ponce District excerpts and recommendations – Attachment C)

5. 5 Douglas Apartment District Task Force ► Problems ► Opportunities ► Planning and Redevelopment Objectives  Ponce De Leon Boulevard  Neighborhoods  Traffic Parking  Security  Social and Community Services  Incentive and Enhancement Programs  Public Investments and Improvements  Public and Private Financing  Cooperative Marketing and Management

6. 6 Douglas Apartment District Task Force ► Mission of Study (page 6 of document)  Support of residential property owners  Support of residents  Support of commercial property owners of Ponce de Leon Boulevard  Support of Coral Gables Taxpayers  “Sustainable” economic and physical redevelopment  Implementable over a brief period of time

7. 7 Douglas Apartment District Task Force ► Summary of area  Area in serious deteriorating condition  High crime rates  Non existent owner occupancy  Numerous code violations  Understandable lack of motivation on the part of individual owners to make significant investments  Failed retail commercial spine at its center

8. 8 Douglas Apartment District Task Force ► Summary (continued)  Area includes historic urban landscape  Historic Mediterranean character  Ponce del Leon is one of the City most important street  Support of the plan requires “broad and committed support from the private sector”

9. 9 Douglas Apartment District Task Force ► Recommendations  Create a redevelopment district  Create a plan  Implement a plan  Seek grants, private and public sector financial support  Issue bonds fianced by tax increment financing and transfer of development right  Make public improvements  Establish a loan program  Make direct investment into community such as social, service, recreational, beautifaciton, economic development  Create Overlay district with modifications to Med Ord, Historic District regulations, Cottage ORdaicne

10. 10 North Ponce District Zoning Review Draft Document - 1998 ► Objective:Stimulate redevelopment of the area ► Study:Examined specifics such a green areas, empty parcels, green space and edges, landscape corridors, specific building details (i.e. setbacks, FAR), street frontages ► Study never underwent public hearing review

11. 11 Pre-Charrette North Ponce de Leon Issues  Land Uses  Zoning  Urban Character  Transportation and Traffic  Parking  Architecture  Streetscape  Infrastructure

12. 12 Pre-Charrette Overview  Coral Gables Apartment District considered relatively affordable  Commercial corridor is attracting new retail, restaurants and entertainment  Allowed: Commercial high-rise development up to 16 stories permitted along Ponce corridor.  Allowed: Apartment development up to 50 units per acre and height up to 8 stories (97’)  Development trends points towards: ► High-rise mixed-use development along Ponce de Leon Boulevard ► Multi-family residential development adjoining the commercial corridor

13. 13 Pre-Charrette Overview ► Existing housing is virtually all multi family, most housing stock is 50 years old ► Development trends could result in the demolition of multi family complexes to make way for larger-scale buildings ► Ponce de Leon Boulevard, the City’s primary north-south commercial corridor, could benefit from streetscale improvements ► Small historic districts may help preserve the half-century old structures, and provide affordable/moderate rents to residents ► Long term goals: ensure commercial and residential developments are complementary to each other

14. 14 Pre-Charrette Overview ► Future trolley service linking CBD, the Village of Merrick Park and Metro Rail will circulate through the North Ponce de Leon District ► Existing apartment buildings have little or no off street parking ► Parking for businesses spills over into residential streets ► Need to preserve historic buildings, tax incentives are available ► Development rights need to be balanced with the need to preserve the low to mid-rise character of the area ► Maintain and enhance street tree program

15. 15 Charrette Recommendations ► Design 4.Develop a master streetscape plan for all Downtown and North Ponce streets to enhance the city as a Garden City, with an emphasis on pedestrian comfort as follows: maximize sidewalk width; add shade trees to increase tree canopy; minimize vehicular lane widths; maximize on-street parking; preserve commercial/retail visibility; access and accentuate mid-block crossings; design aesthetically pleasing lighting; select plant material types to relate to street scale; and promote increased urban open space in safe, accessible areas. Encourage the use of innovative design and planting techniques, including structural soil, to insure survivability of plant material. Develop four generic approaches (kit of parts) based on the variety of existing rights of way and conditions as follows:

16. 16 Charrette Recommendations ► Design (continued) 6.Activate trolley planned for north-south route from SW 8th Street to Merrick Park and Metro Rail; add east-west service on Miracle Mile and Biltmore Way up to Venetian Pool and Biltmore Hotel 8.Consider long term plan for fixed rail to substitute for rubber tire trolleys and study additional routes throughout City in addition to routes mentioned above 9.Develop eastern edge of Philips Park with liner residential buildings to conceal the parking garage now visible across the park and to add eyes on the park. Use development proceeds to purchase land for small parks in the North Ponce area 16.Reinforce five identifiable communities in North Ponce area, per prior study, with a streetscape that establishes identity and a special green space for each community

17. 17 Charrette Recommendations ► Design (continued) 17.Create a central square for all of North Ponce at intersection of Ponce de Leon Boulevard and East Ponce Boulevard with arcaded buildings or similar edge defining attributes surrounding the new square 18.Redesign Ponce de Leon Boulevard corridor to include the following: increased sidewalks widths; sidewalk landscaping; limitation of vehicular driveway curb cuts; and traffic calming, including a landscaped median 19.Provide landscaped traffic calming elements for Galiano and Salzedo Streets

18. 18 Charrette Recommendations ► Management 6.Position Downtown and North Ponce retail to be complementary to, rather than competing with, tenant mix of the Merrick Park 8(e)Create remote parking respectful of surrounding residential uses at the north terminus of the trolley system. South terminus is already served at Metro Rail 8(h)Introduce residential parking permit system for North Ponce residential neighborhood. (Parking, Building and Zoning)

19. 19 Charrette Recommendations ► Policy 1.Consolidate dense development and redevelopment of Downtown to enhance the public realm and its transit friendliness and walkability 5.Work with County to assume jurisdiction of all streets in Downtown and North Ponce 14.Preserve historic apartment buildings in North Ponce and develop methodology for implementation thereof 15.Preserve North Ponce as the City’s neighborhood for affordable rental housing 16.Revise zoning code to promote infill building in North Ponce that is compatible with historic types, with parking behind habitable space fronting sidewalks to ensure eyes on the street 18.Revise zoning Code to allow bed and breakfast uses with smaller unit size and parking on the street with permits

20. 20 TriBoard and Public Input ► Educate City Staff and each Board on issues as they relate to the following:  Economic Development Standpoint  Historic Preservation perspective  Planning and Zoning Issues ► Solicit public input

21. 21 TriBoard Workshop Discussion