DOWNTOWN Passion

Seize the Opportunity
Maitland Passionate about Our New Downtown

Posted March 5, 2007 - via email

An Open Letter to the Citizens of Maitland,

For years our city has been struggling with the development of a new downtown. As a City of Maitland resident for the past twenty-two years, I agree that up until our present downtown development opportunity I, like many of you (my fellow citizens), have been dissatisfied with what we have been offered. However, Bob Reese of the Brossier Company is offering us something that I feel is to good to pass up and if we don't seize this opportunity now we may never have such an opportunity like this again.

The following reasons are why I feel this way. These reasons have been discussed at the workshops and developer meetings, however, let me briefly state them again:


1. No Cost to the Citizens of Maitland ­
Because of the CRA and CDD taxing districts, there is no costs associated with this project to the citizens of Maitland. The developer assumes all the liability. We can get a beautiful new downtown and have to pay nothing for it.

2. Land Assemblage ­
As a developer myself, I know the difficulty in assembling land. It has taken the developer two years to achieve this assemblage. He has purchased the Winn Dixie and Royal Plaza properties and has full contracts with firm purchase dates rapidly approaching on the balance of the needed land (with the exception of the city owned land) for creation of the new downtown. It would be very difficult and time consuming for another developer to come in and start the assemblage process all over again. Time is something we don't have the luxury of anymore with the present traffic situation on 17-92.

3. Traffic Capacity of 17-92 ­
If we don't develop our new downtown soon,17-92 will reach its maximum capacity from non-Maitland generated traffic. The city ofMaitland does not have a TCEA (Traffic Concurrency Exception Area) so we will not be allowed to develop any downtown at all as there will be no traffic capacity left for our new downtown. There is no question that 17-92 will reach its maximum capacity in the near future whether we develop our new downtown or not. We need to act quickly to ensure the creation of our new downtown instead of letting outsiders passing through take the remaining traffic capacity leaving us with no chance to develop our new townsquare.


As for the present developers new downtown design, this design has evolved from countless workshops and meetings over the past 18 months. The plan has changed substantially from the original concept due to the input of manyMaitland citizens and the developer wanting to do the best he can, within his economic constraints, to give the Maitland citizens what they want for anew downtown. I believe that this evolved design is very creative and would give us a wonderful and vibrant downtown. For the proposed Central Park design concept, I believe that the even if a central park design was economically feasible, (which through the many meetings and workshops it has proven not to be), the present design, creating four separate park areas ungulating throughout the new proposed downtown area totaling approximately four acres, is more interesting and pleasing to the eye when walking through the new downtown area then having one Central Park totaling approximately two acres. Furthermore, these separate parks can be used simultaneously for many different functions creating more events for Maitland citizens and patrons.

The new proposed downtown design also includes incorporating Lake Lily Parkat the south end of our new downtown. Lake Lily Park in my opinion is presently Maitland's "Gem" which will become part of our new proposed downtown when Phase 2 is completed. The southern most park that the developer is proposing in Phase 2 opens up and creates a wonderful gateway to Lake Lily Park. The new Phase 2 park can be used to expand Lake Lily Park for major events such as art festivals or be used separately for other events. Even Winter Park does not have such a beautiful feature in it's downtown.

In addressing our historic heritage, the developer has incorporated in his design, saving a major portion of our historic city owned Central Park including most of the beautiful oak trees. As for the present city hall,fire and police stations, these are not historic buildings and need not be preserved. The historic buildings that were originally located on the site (Packwood Hall and the Maitland Train Depot) are long gone. My suggestion for keeping the history alive at our present Central Park is to create an area in the park dedicated to showcasing the history of Maitland. This would be a great way of preserving Maitland's history by educating our fellow citizens, Orlandoan's and tourists who would be coming to experience our beautiful new downtown.

What about our future history? What are we going to leave for our children and their children? Lets create a new history going forward for our downtown. A warm, inviting and vibrant history for the future generations to come, not a distressed town that everyone passes through to go to other vibrant town squares.If we don't go forward now with our proposed new downtown, below are some disturbing consequences:


1. 17-92 would reach its capacity and eliminate the possibility of a newdowntown.

2. The properties presently owned by the developer would probably be divided into smaller parcels and developed as fast food restaurants and banks.

3. Businesses in the area would continue to struggle, many going out ofbusiness from lack of interest from patrons in visiting our present virtually non-existent downtown area.

4. Property taxes would escalate from a lack of revenue as our present struggling downtown area would continue to decline.

5. The citizens of Maitland would be deprived of a wonderful and vibrant downtown having to continue to go to Winter Park and other town squares for the majority of their dining, entertainment and shopping.


There are still many issues to be resolved in the developer¹s agreement before we can go forward with the new downtown including and most importantly the relocation of the fire and police stations as well as city hall. However, we should embrace the present evolved design of the new downtown and concentrate on resolving all the other issues so that our new proposed downtown can become a reality.

Sincerely, Howard Schieferdecker
HASchief@aol.com


TO MY FELLOW MAITLAND CITIZENS: This is the future of your downtown. Please get involved in anyway that you can either through attending the meetings or writing letters to your fellow citizens or the Mayor expressing your opinions and concerns. To contact the Mayor @ City Hall please call (407)539-6250 or Email the Mayor @ dkinson@itsmymaitland.com.