*** MAITLAND ***

Dear Maitland Neighbors,

For several reasons I have decided to dismantle this website and Maitland e-mailings. However, I am very pleased to say there are excellent ways for you to stay in touch with what is happening in our Maitland.

The following website and email addresses should be of great service to you if you choose to utilize them:

Maitland Progress NOW...is a group of concerned citizens who WANT A DOWNTOWN. Their site will provide you with updates about important meetings and the ability to begin receiving informational type e-mailings. I recommend that you become involved and sign up NOW.
http://www.maitlandprogressnow.com/

The Brossier Company...Developer Bob Reese's excellent display of his plans for developing our Maitland downtown. If you want information straight from "the horses mouth"...visit this site.
http://www.brossier.us/

The City of Maitland...provides all the information you need to attend upcoming City Council Meetings, listen to the minutes of those meetings and much, much more. Visit this site and familiarize yourself with all that it offers.
http://itsmymaitland.com/

Maitland Elected Officials...please write to your Mayor, Doug Kinson, telling him what you want your downtown to be and include copies to each of your city council members.
dkinson@itsmymaitland.com; jflowers@itsmymaitland.com; breponen@itsmymaitland.com; bdmiller@itsmymaitland.com; btaulbee@itsmymaitland.com;

Maitland United....is, from what I understand and can discern, a group of people who claim to want a downtown but seem to be bent on supplying the community with erroneous and propaganda type information slanted against both past and current downtown development (as a sampling...read Elizabeth Peele's email letter below). Even though I have made several attempts to be placed on their emailing list, they have continued to leave me off - perhaps because they know I am very supportive of downtown development ? Your guess is as good as mine.
http://maitlandunited.com/

Blessings,

Ann


~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Forwarded Message:
Subj:
response to Maitland United
Date:
7/12/2007 9:38:52 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time
From:
Lfrosch99

This letter was written by Elizabeth Peele in response to the Maitland United email sent out last weekend. Please read it and pass it on. Elizabeth does a wonderful job of explaining the current situation.
Thank you, Linda
___________________________________________________________________________________
From: Elizabeth S. Peele [mailto:ESP@GRBnet.com] Sent: Wednesday, July 11, 2007 4:23 PMTo: 'Maitland United'Cc: rbreese@brossierco.com; dkinson@itsmymaitland.com; jflowers@itsmymaitland.com; breponen@itsmymaitland.com; bdmiller@itsmymaitland.com; btaulbee@itsmymaitland.com; Rebecca@MicaStrategic.com; Dmica@micastrategic.com

Subject: Comments regarding Packwood Ave. view

Dear Maitland United,

I am truly sorry that you continue to use inaccurate information to intimidate the public into believing a Non-Truth.

In reference in particular to the notion that there is no “set back” and a huge 7 story hotel abutting Packwood Ave as indicated in the rendering below which you sent out this past Monday. This rendering was created by someone in the Maitland United group. It is NOT from the developer as your wording could, by some, be misinterpreted to indicate. (….”To get a more complete understanding of the proposed buildings' height and mass, the information presented by the developer was used to create computer simulated views from various common locations in our city.”)

So please do not continue to spread mis-truths that appear to be based on information from the developer himself, The truth is, that the Brossier Plan includes 15 foot wide internal sidewalks, and a step-back configuration after three stories (not a 7 story “monster”.) There is also a bike/pedestrian 15 foot wide trail on the CSX rail line in the back of the development. (this information was given to me in an email by Bob Reese, Developer)

I find it unfortunate that the Maitland United Group is really now DIVIDING our community.

I was once very much in favor of the Maitland United Group’s objectives – I made a small donation to the cause, I helped with providing computer equipment to show the Maitland United Plan at informal “coffee klatches” held at Maitland residents’ homes, I was even the “Poster Girl” holding the rendering of Maitland United’s vision for the downtown in the Maitland Observer paper. I appreciated the Grass Roots effort to let the City and others know that the citizen’s wanted input on the downtown development, (unlike what happened regarding the Villages of Lake Lily Project and others… where it was only “lip service” that the Citizen’s had input through “public workshops” when in fact these developments were basically a “done deal” by the time the citizens got involved and voiced their opinions and discontent.)

However, during my several months of involvement with the Maitland United Group, I personally found that there seemed to be little room for compromise. I felt it was exclusively the Maitland United’s Plan as rendered and that was it; no modifications were entertained. I also found that there was, at times, arrogance against certain outspoken Maitland residents by not allowing them to be involved, I voice my concern about this. And, I found that there seemed to be a committed determination to stir-up resentment against the Brossier Plan for the Downtown Development., rather than truly wanting to sit down to talk and compromise to make it work- to get us a Downtown … I felt that Maitland United continued and even today continues to show why the plan shouldn't work when in fact they really don’t know for sure.

Yes, there is higher density than many would like, yes the buildings will be taller than 3 stories… but in fact – how bad is that??? I know that when I go to a hotel, I LIKE getting a room on a higher floor. I LIKE to look out and have a beautiful panorama of the area I’m in. The financial demands to make the project work require this higher density and height. Had we done the downtown 10 years ago we would not be in this position of needing greater height and density than some people originally hoped for.

I changed my allegiance from Maitland United because I found the developer was more willing to make the project work than the Maitland “United” group.

I have witnessed over the months that Bob Reese has recognized the citizens’ pleas for limited height and has worked diligently to try to create a look that will NOT be a 7 story behemoth all around but rather the Brossier design is to integrate the 7 story buildings sporadically throughout the project in a “wedding cake” type look - stair stepped back. Bob has continued to hold weekly workshops for nearly a year wherein the public could come and listen and comment and dialogue with him to express concerns and passions and make suggestions and get involved. Over and over, I have found that he has tried to modify the project to the input received all the while maintaining a “first class” look, with design and features that we can ALL be so proud of when the downtown is complete. It will be MAGNIFICENT!

In my opinion, if we lose our present developer, and have him sell out to CVS and we get more, 1 story banks, a Chick-Fil-A and other fast food restaurants, our city will be just as “ugly” as it is now. Let’s NOT LOSE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL , INTEGRATED, UPSCALE, “GREEN” DOWNTOWN. I will not even go into the implications of the millions of dollars of tax revenues that will be lost if we do NOT make this integrated downtown a reality.

If one does not truly know about the business of putting large scale real estate / development deals together – one truly has no clue of how complicated, involved and intricate it is. It is easy for us as the public to think of and accuse the developer of being an “ugly ogre” who will make jillions of dollars with an attitude of “to hell with the public” - but that is far from the truth. It is an amazingly risky, long term committed, highly intense business. If anyone from the Maitland United Group is willing to come to the table and give the city tens of millions of dollars to build the Downtown with low density, 3 stories with a 2 acre park…. please come forward NOW!

I would LOVE a 2 acre park in the middle of our downtown – but economically it is not feasible, nor practical. The land in the downtown area is too valuable to not have it be “tax revenue” producing. Bob Reese has tried his darnedest to recognize the citizen’s cry for park land and open space and has incorporated what will amount to nearly 4 acres of open space/mini parks that will be probably more frequented than a massive 2 acre park. As has been said at many of the CRA/Council meetings, look at Quinn Strong Park… just 300 yards from City Hall…. How often do you see that park with more than a few people there per week??? How often does anyone go and sit in the Park just outside of City Hall. The majestic oaks ARE Beautiful… and Bob Reese has made provision to keep as many as possible where they are and those that cannot be kept there he will have moved to a different location in the downtown community (when healthy and practical.).

PLEASE, PLEASE…. MAITLAND UNITED….. it’s time for a TRUCE!

It’s time for you to STOP inciting negativity and look for the positives… Let’s work toward MAKING THIS DOWNTOWN a reality….. MAKE MAITLAND - UNITED – NOT DIVIDED!

If we delay any more, and have to wait until another developer is found and his plan goes through all the intricacies that are required – then we’re talking about at least another 2+ years which will mean that the economic feasibility of the next project will require even greater heights and higher density than what the Brossier Plan has.

This letter is not designed in anyway as a put down for the Maitland United Group. I admire and respect the participants – as I said, I once was one. This letter is designed to encourage you to “pick-up” the Group, accept compromise and motivate the group into really learning the truth so as to make downtown Maitland a reality for us all. The Brossier Plan may not be perfect in everyone’s eyes…. but it is certainly so much better than what we have now and let’s not run the risk of loosing it.

PLEASE let’s truly BE and WANT for a MAITLAND UNITED!!

Regards and thanks to all for “listening”

Elizabeth Peele

(I would be very grateful if you would please distribute this letter to all those on your mailing list.)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For a clear representation of The Brossier Company's downtown Maitland plan as it was unveiled at a past City Council/CRA meeting....please read the following article originally published in The Winter Park/Maitland Observer newspaper:

A presentation on the proposed Maitland Town Center Monday night officially launched talks between the Brossier Company and the City of Maitland on the developer’s agreement submitted earlier that day. The proposed project would be developed on the two blocks between 17-92 and Maitland Avenue with George Avenue to the North and Packwood Avenue to the South. The multi-use project will focus on retail, office and hotel space unlike other developments in Maitland that are residential based. It is designed to be sustainable and pedestrian friendly with seventy percent of the project dedicated to open space, right of way or buildings of three stories or less.

Reese proposes to create a Community Development District (CDD) within Maitland’s Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). The complex proposal allows the Brossier Company to secure financing to build the public infrastructure and insulates the city from financial liability for the bonds.

The Brossier Company estimates the Town Center project will generate more than $3 million in tax revenue for the city of Maitland upon completion of the project in 2012. This estimate is based on the utility tax, franchise fees, communications service tax and sales tax. According to the Brossier Company, other financial benefits to the city are:
· No financial liability or maintenance costs for new public infrastructure
· $30M in horizontal improvements
· $70M in total public improvements
· Annual estimated ad valorem taxes to city of Maitland in 2035 (upon expiration of the CRA district) are in excess of $14 million.

Tom Leung, President of Global Retail Strategies (GRS) in Vancouver, Canada opened the presentation with a shining review of Maitland’s market potential. After 3 months of research GRS found that Maitland is perfectly aligned with all the elements that make a successful town center. Leung said, “This is one of the top sites I’ve seen in the last 3 years, particularly in the southern states – what we call the growth states” he continued, “Maitland has potential to be the most successful lifestyle development in all of Florida if not on the eastern seaboard”

Laura Barbera Buffa of Walter P. Moore, a structural engineering firm stated that parking recommendations were based on the “shared parking”. She said that the suggested parking estimate is actually higher than industry standards and Maitland’s parking code also approves the use of shared parking. In comparison, she stated that Winter Park Village with its heavy retail and 4000-seat movie theater component would need at least 300 more parking spaces according to this formula.

Scott Martin of Baker Barrios architectural firm said the plan provides for a space with a goal of making people want to come back again and again. The architect spoke of the pedestrian friendly focus and eye level appeal with richness in materials used. All garages will be “lined” so that they appear architecturally as a building. He stated that all buildings fronting roads will be “stepped back” which means that a pedestrian would only see 3-stories from the sidewalk.

Jeffrey Manuel, of Glatting Jackson, a community planning and design firm said once Maitland Town Center is completed, this would be the largest green roof project in Florida, giving Maitland the potential to become Florida’s greenest city.

Mayor Kinson said "this city is ready to look at a development like this". And went on to make a point that this is really the very beginning saying he is going to look at every aspect of the deal and then make up his mind. Kinson also reminded city council members of their duty to act in a quasi-judicial manner when reviewing developer’s agreements.

Maitland Community Redevelopment Agency Orange County Representative John Lowndes said he had “more than 100 questions” after a cursory review of the Developer’s Agreement draft. He stated in addition to his questions, he would like to see more “meat on the bones” of the document. He said Maitland should be mindful of the benefit to the city. He also said that if Maitland is contributing land to the deal, there need to be appraisals.

The passion of the citizens is openly apparent at city meetings. Comments revealed that many residents support the Town Center concept overall and are eager to get more details. Many expressed a desire for open space in the project. Irene Stouffer referenced towns in Europe that have general spaces that encourage people of all ages to gather together, where they can sit and visit and the children can play. She asked Bob Reese if the town center will have a space where we won’t have to fight cars, where we can visit [with each other]. Reese responded that the entire town center is designed to provide for what she described. Without hesitation, she answered, ”Okay. Then I’d like to get in line to buy a condo.”