Christmas and New Year’s vacations are good on several fronts. One, I get to see more of my family. Secondly, I get some rest and prepare for the year; thirdly, I read a good book. While I regularly recommend Bill Kercher’s books on Character Neighborhoods, Towns, and Main Streets, he recommended another called Regenerating Older Suburbs, printed by the Urban Land Institute.
In the foreword, the authors set out the questions to answer: “What constitutes a successful regeneration? What will motivate private-sector developers to invest in older areas? Why are some suburbs more successful than others in attracting significant redevelopment activity? What are the appropriate roles for the for-profit, non-profit, and public sectors to play, as well as the grass-roots stakeholders?
In our commissioner area, District 2, we have many older suburbs which need revitalization. I have had a measure of success with adding sidewalks, developing a neighborhood leader, and a bit of code enforcement. I have also had failures with balloting for new streetlights. It is hard for me to understand why someone would not want to pay $40 a year for a safer community, but alas, I have been unsuccessful in two underserved neighborhoods. The book also mentions the value of corridor improvements. Clearly, if we want private sector investment, the gateways and corridors must demonstrate that the municipality, residents, and business owners are engaged and interested in improvement.
I highly recommend once FDOT, the county, or cities improve infrastructure, that leaders set out to inspire the residents and business owners to improve their areas. Improvements can be relatively easy and inexpensive. For example, it’s not hard to pick up trash and park cars neatly. For a bit more investment, painting facades and upgrading landscaping provide the touch that tells the community you care. FDOT is in the process of improving US 441 through the west side of Apopka and soon through the Zellwood area. These are golden opportunities to improve the corridors.
I’m in the process of strengthening the North Pine Hills, Lockhart, and Wekiwa Springs area leader’s groups to manage these types of activities. We have active boards of directors and members who follow my lead in corridor improvements, wall maintenance, pressure washing, trash pick-up, etc. We are also branching out to include high school students to paint fences and homes of our elderly. All I need to assist the west side of Apopka and Zellwood is a new group of leaders to step up. Please call my office if you wish to help lead these new groups at 407.836.5850. Our first quarterly leader’s meeting is Thursday, January 19th, at Wekiva High School.
What the book did is help me broaden my thinking to seek more private sector investment. We must be more deliberate and purposeful about seeking larger dollar amounts for the major improvements we would like to see. I also believe we cannot allow rampant, out-of-control sprawl if we want to see infill and improvements in existing areas. I’m proud of the new, smaller developments, homes, and small businesses I have been a part of, coming to South Apopka, Lockhart, North Pine Hills, and Wekiwa Springs. I believe it goes back to looking neat and clean. No investor wants to waste millions in an area he or she believes will not bring a return on the investment.
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MamaMia
Christine, If you are for improving safety in Orange County, as you indicate, why do you ignore the fact, that there are no guard railings along Piedmont Wekiva Road, along that lake frontage, with the fountain out in the middle, in the Hobby Lobby parking lot. I ride all around Orange County, as well as other counties, and I know of no other waterways that are that extremely close to the road, with no guardrails, fencing, or some type of barriers. It is an accident just waiting to happen, and it is very deep, sloping straight down! I have asked you many times about this, and you don't respond.
Wednesday, January 4, 2023 Report this
MamaMia
I watched and listened to the Apopka City Council meeting today. It started out on a positive note by honoring the city employees for their services, and years with the city. I learned about their families, their children, their pets, and their hobbies. It seemed there was a breath of fresh air, for the council, and the new year, but then it started up again, all the negative, with the fire department. The accusations, the blame game, the finger pointing in Austin's death. I really felt sorry for Austin's girlfriend when she spoke, I know she loved him, and is truly heartbroken. I am so sorry that he died. I see Commissioner Velasquez wants some sort of resolution. That's fine, but the fact of the matter is, it is a divided fire department, as the fire chief pointed out, and the union members, the union leader, and the fire chief, are not going to be best friends. If another fire chief replaced the current fire chief, it would be the same thing, they would not be best friends either. Don't expect the Duran family and the city attorney to be best friends either. There will be a lawsuit in the future, we know that, all the facts of both sides will come out then. My hope is our city can pull together after this tragedy, and work together, but it looks very unlikely.
Wednesday, January 4, 2023 Report this
MamaMia
I spotted the photo of the person of interest in the double murders of the elderly couple in Mt. Dora. She looks mean. She has been charged with grand theft, in stealing the couple's car, but not murder, as of yet. She is being held in a county jail near Savannah, Georgia. I logged back to the Apopka News Break, and didn't find her photo again. Maybe they shifted the articles around. They do that sometimes. You don't know what a person's motive is, when they come up to you, asking for things. DeSantis can call Florida the Land of Sanity, if he wants, but if you live here, you know otherwise.
Wednesday, January 4, 2023 Report this
MamaMia
One other comment before I go to bed....why is Matt Gaetz, up there in DC, running his big mouth, and obstructing the vote on the house speaker, why is he NOT IN JAIL? Why is Trump NOT IN JAIL too??
Wednesday, January 4, 2023 Report this
MamaMia
Shelly, I didn't realize just how much you missed me at the city council meetings. Nice to know, I am omnipresent in your mind, as you mentioned me toward the end of the council meeting......XOXOs.....now, Shelly, just a little bit of constructive criticism of your council performance yesterday....When you question people, wanting or demanding information, or answers, to your questions directed toward them, you need to listen to their responses in full first, before you interrupt them, with your planned attack.
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Thursday, January 5, 2023 Report this
MamaMia
OMG, I had channel 2 on, and finished watching Dateline, then the news came on, and said there had been a shooting at Wekiva High School. One person injured, shooter is still at large! The world has gone mad......
Friday, January 6, 2023 Report this
MamaMia
Unbelievable that Desantis is planning on taking over Disney World properties, removing the corporate board of directors, and appointing his own state directors.....that man is beyond a nut case. This is headed to court, for sure. He sure doesn't need to be POTUS!
Friday, January 6, 2023 Report this
MamaMia
I'm waiting to see if there a house speaker vote. That's the biggest bunch of clowns around. Disgusting what is happening in government nowadays, local, state, and federal!
Friday, January 6, 2023 Report this