Bayfront group pushes back on GWIZ preservation

The Bay says public input supports demolishing the Boulevard of the Arts building.

By David Conway
| 6:00 a.m. October 11, 2018

A majority of the City Commission has not shown a desire to take additional steps to explore the preservation of the GWIZ building.

Sarasota
News

Despite an ongoing campaign to preserve the former Gulfcoast Wonder and Imagination Zone building, the group behind a master plan to redevelop the bayfront says the majority of the public doesn’t care about saving the structure.

Last month, the City Commission officially adopted The Bay Sarasota’s proposed bayfront master plan. The commission also approved a first phase for the project that includes the demolition of the GWIZ building at 1001 Boulevard of the Arts.

Even after that vote, however, architects and historic preservationists have asked the city to reconsider the future of the building. Supporters say the structure, originally constructed in 1976 as the Selby Library, has historic significance in the community. They believe the city has not enough to explore options for repurposing the building.

Vice Mayor Jen Ahearn-Koch, a leading advocate for considering preservation, has placed an item on the Oct. 15 commission agenda to discuss the GWIZ building. Ahearn-Koch voted against the proposed first phase of the bayfront project because she objected to the demolition of the structure. She brought up the topic again at the Oct. 1 commission meeting, unsuccessfully urging other commissioners to set up a new process to review if the building should remain.

“Conceptually, I’m in support, “Ahearn-Koch said of the bayfront proposal. “Very specifically, the demolition of the GWIZ building, I would like to see the community’s input. It’s not a minority of people, not a minority of voice at this point. There are really hundreds of people.”

Although the Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization initially said it would remain open to any viable proposals for the GWIZ building as plans for phase one developed, a letter sent Tuesday attempts to cut short the effort to preserve the structure.

In the letter, the SBPO states there are a number of reasons the GWIZ building is slated for demolition. Vacant for six years, the property is in need of significant maintenance. Positioned close to the bayfront, the building is vulnerable to sea level rise and storm surge.

Ahearn-Koch provided city staff with 58 emails from residents regarding the GWIZ building, 50 of which were in favor of preservation. The SBPO said that pales in comparison to the segment of the community who said green space and open access to the water was a priority during the drafting of the master plan.

“Community input informed each decision at each stage during the process,” the SBPO wrote. “In surveying thousands of citizens, fewer than 30 were interested in repurposing GWIZ.”

If officials paused phase one to review options for the GWIZ building, the SBPO argued the city would be jeopardizing the future of the bayfront project.

“Many were skeptical of this project when we began, but through our engaging process, and the city’s approvals of the master plan, the public trusted that its collective dream was soon to be a reality,” the SBPO wrote. “If implementation is delayed in the very first phase of this project, how can trust survive?”

The letter from Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization

Open Community Statement

from the Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization, Inc.

October 9, 2018

It’s time.

Five years ago, Bayfront 20:20 envisioned 42 acres of bayfront land for an iconic public destination that welcomes all.

Two and a half years ago, the Sarasota City Commission affirmed the Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization to develop a Master Plan based on community aspirations and best use of City assets on, now, 53 acres.

Two years ago, with $2.159 million raised from private donations, the SBPO engaged a world class design firm and led an open, public and transparent process of community collaboration, dialogue and engagement to draw out the aspirations, needs and wants of more than 45,000 community members.

One month ago, the City Commission unanimously approved the Master Plan for a bayfront park and approved implementation of Phase 1.

Last week, the Commission approved an Interim Agreement to create a Conservancy to help the City begin to conserve, fund, build, and manage Phase 1.

Now, a small special interest group wants to undermine the City’s decision and stop Phase 1.

The Master Plan reflects the collective community voice for a bayfront blue and green oasis, an enhanced natural environment with open cultural and recreational areas, and a new performing arts center. The most precious and valuable assets on the site are Sarasota Bay, its bayfront and public parkland. SBPO prioritized conserving, preserving and protecting these scarce natural resources to meet community aspirations reflecting tens of thousands of inputs. We communicated to the City Commission that a bayfront park was the best use of these assets, and that the Plan met the City Commission-approved success criteria of being financially feasible, environmentally sustainable and operationally viable.

Community input informed each decision at each stage during the process. In surveying thousands of citizens, fewer than 30 were interested in repurposing GWIZ. SBPO conducted an expert assessment of GWIZ, applied the success criteria and tested alignment with community aspirations, and concluded that GWIZ did not meet the criteria. The building is troubled—6 years of abandonment, needed maintenance, and the most vulnerable building in the City’s Climate Adaptation Study.

Setting aside its physical condition, its location makes it vulnerable to worsening environmental and climate threats, including sea level rise. The building prevents access and views of the Bay, bayou and mangroves. The collective community told us land underneath the building is much more valuable conserved, preserved and enhanced as a bayfront park. Informed decision-making led to conserving the bayfront and underlying land to meet the community’s desire for a bayfront park.

The Master Plan delicately balances natural asset conservation with preserving both natural and constructed assets. Today the 53-acre site is two-thirds surface parking and rooftops. The approved Master Plan transforms the site into two-thirds green bayfront parkland. Today, Sarasota Bay’s health is challenged. The approved Master Plan improves such by treating the stormwater that now flows untreated into our water.

We only have this one chance to conserve and preserve the natural environment, although the building can be honored in designing Phase 1 improvements.

It’s time to move forward.

If the GWIZ building remains, the entire Master Plan is compromised. Phase 1 is no longer implementable, financially viable or operationally doable. Process delays are not an option, as the SBPO’s funding is exhausted by December 31. Sasaki will move onto its next project, and current and future leaders and donors will choose to invest in other community projects.

Worse yet, the City will suffer a loss of public credibility. Many were skeptical of this project when we began, but through our engaging process, and the City’s approvals of the Master Plan, the public trusted that its collective dream was soon to be a reality. If implementation is delayed in the very first phase of this project, how can trust survive?

Worst of all, our community will be denied the open, public and green bayfront park that Sarasota -- residents and visitors, young and old, kids from Boys & Girls Club and Girls Inc., Newtown, Rosemary and downtown residents -- told us they wanted.

Hard decisions were made, and more will be required in the future to realize the Master Plan for a bayfront benefitting all ages. We are best served when there are exacting standards by which decisions are measured, standards that speak to and for the community as a whole. The City decided in favor of the community when they approved the Master Plan and implementation of Phase 1. We expect assurances in such approvals, and a Commission that stands by its approvals. Sarasota is watching to see the City Commission clearly continue forward.

We stand by our extensive, inclusive community process. We stand by the Master Plan. We stand ready to implement Phase 1. We look forward to our City’s clear and unwavering leadership as we move forward in implementing our community’s dreams.

Submitted by:

The Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization, Inc.

AG Lafley, Chairman

Jennifer Compton, Secretary

Cathy Layton, Treasurer

Board Members:

Allen Carlson, Steve Cover, Keith Dubose, Michael Klauber, Rob Lane, Cynthia McCague