Why the Vue is so close to the road and the 5-year plan

The following appeared in the April 21 edition of the Sarasota and Siesta Key Observers.

We’re stuck on traffic.

No one can get it off his mind. But instead of talking about how bad it is, the conversation has shifted. Instead of “It took me XX minutes to get here!” the tone is pleasant surprise and relief: “It took me only X minutes to get here.” 

But everyone is still talking about the Vue … and Fruitville and U.S. 41 …  and U.S. 41 and Gulfstream.

“Who let them build that thing so close to the road?”

“What are they going to do there?”

We have some answers. You’ll be surprised. Maybe pleasantly so. 

Start with the easy one: The Vue condominium and Westin hotel. 

You may find this difficult to believe, but building to the lot line on U.S. 41, with the building seemingly hanging over the road, is required in the city code. City Manager Tom Barwin says that came from the famous Andrew Duany “new urban” downtown plan the city adopted in 2004.

And actually, city officials told us, the Kolter Group voluntarily moved the building back. Don’t blame Kolter.

More good news: When the Vue is completed, Barwin says, the Vue’s facade on U.S. 41 “will be light, glossy modern and iconic” in the style of the Sarasota School of Architecture. The sidewalk next to the building and 41 will be wider than it was before, and the road will be straightened so there won’t be a goofy jog in the right-turn lane.

There’s more. Judge it for yourself:

Barwin says the Florida Department of Transportation will start in June constructing a permanent and better right-turn lane on 41 at Fruitville heading north, and a raised median  island extending from Gulfstream to Fruitville. FDOT also will straighten that portion of 41.

At the same time, FDOT is moving forward on constructing roundabouts at 41 and Gulfstream, Fruitville and 10th and 14th streets.  

And to demonstrate FDOT’s commitment to addressing the logjams at 41 and Fruitville and Gulfstream FDOT has cut in half the time it normally takes to construct the roundabouts — from 10 to 12 years to five to six years.

City Engineer Alex DavisShaw says she has never seen FDOT work this fast.

Yahoo. But sorry, it’s difficult to celebrate. Five to six years before construction is completed?

Overlay on that the Greenpointe project at the old Quay site. Its regional president, Rick Harcrow, says if all goes as planned, it hopes to begin construction in the first quarter of 2017. He says that project is estimated to take seven years.

To date, Barwin and DavisShaw told us, Greenpointe and Kolter have more than met their required traffic obligations and have been coordinating and cooperative with the city and FDOT.

Somehow, though, it remains difficult to imagine that roundabouts at Fruitville and Gulfstream will be the answer. It will be half of a decade before we know … 

What about an underpass?