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SRQ DAILY Jul 16, 2014

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"People, when they had the choice of what kind of look they wanted, wanted a more historical look for the building. They wanted something that represented iconic buildings of the past."

- Susan Chapman, Sarasota City Commissioner
 

[Architecture]  Sewage Station Gets Civic Look
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

What do a sewage lift station and a city hall have in common? If you said similar architecture, you likely have seen Sarasota's plans for a new facility in Luke Wood Park. City officials on Tuesday unveiled new plans for the lift station at Luke Wood that show the above-ground structure will look like the Hover building, the structure that served for decades as Sarasota's historic City Hall. The city settled on this architecture after holding public meetings with residents in nearby neighborhoods.

“We know residents want to keep the project moving," said Matt Tidwell, Sarasota utility director, "and now that we have a design, we’ll start the City’s site-planning review process. 

Sarasota officials in May decided to move forward with an above-ground design after underground designs were determined to be unfeasible. The city is now embroiled in a lawsuit with prior engineers about the project, and last year hired engineering firm McKim and Creed to take over the project.

The lift station at Luke Wood Park has been controversial since the project's inception. After sewage spills at Lift Station 7 by Hudson Bayou exposed issues with the administration at the time, city officials decided to move the lift station and build a new one at Luke Wood Park. The project has been plagued by engineering concerns and cost overruns. The project now could cost in excess of $25 million.

McKim and Creed hired local architect Jack Christie to design the exterior of the building, according to Sarasota city spokeswoman Jan Thornburg. Christie has been working with Sarasota's Urban Design Studio on the project. Sarasota had considered Spanish mission architecture and modern architecture designs as well.

Sarasota City Commissioner Susan Chapman said residents at community meetings wanted a classic architecture to the station. "They wanted a more historic look at the building," she said, "something that represented iconic buildings of the past."

The building specifically harkens the Hover Arcade building, a Sarasota Bayfront structure that once surrounded a prominent fishing pier with two iconic 40-foot towers. The Hover building in 1917 was purchased by the city and officials ultimately moved all City Hall functions into the building. Municipal government moved into the current City Hall in the 1950s and the Hover Arcade was demolished in 1967, according to Sarasota History Alive.

Chapman said because the building will be recognizable from a distance, it will be easily identified as a civic building. Animatics of the plan show as well that the new structure will be largely hidden behind trees and other landscaping.  

[Exec Moves]  SouthTech Welcomes Dave Bharratt

SouthTech, an IT services firm that has delivered and supported infrastructure and business management solutions throughout Florida since 1994, has announced the addition of Dave Bharratt as Systems Support Specialist to the SouthTech team. As a Systems Support Specialist, Bharratt’s expertise will be utilized desktop, server and network support to SouthTech clients. 

SouthTech

[Opening]  Carrabba's Breaks Ground in Venice

Carrabba’s Italian Grill broke ground on its first restaurant in Venice. The new location at 1751 Tamiami Trail is expected to open later this year. The new Carrabba’s will bring approximately 120 new jobs to the Venice community and will feature a contemporary interior and exterior design that reflects warm Italian hospitality. 

Carrabba's Italian Grill

[Exec Moves]  Cantor Named Chief Operating Officer

Kerkering Barberio Financial Services, Inc. has announced that Paul Cantor, CFA, is newly hired as the first-ever Chief Operating Officer. Cantor will be a part of the team to develop and implement business and growth strategies for Kerkering Barberio Financial Services (KBFS). Cantor brings to the role thirty years of Wall Street experience as a trader, analyst and hedge fund manager principal. 

Kerkering Barberio Financial Services

[Recognition]  Aston Honored in Real Trends Survey

May Aston, a Realtor in the RE/MAX Alliance Group Bradenton office, recently ranked nationally in the 2014 REAL Trends "The Thousand" as advertised in the Wall Street Journal. Participating U.S. agents with the most home sales in 2013 were listed by transaction sides and sales volume. Aston placed 163rd in the Top 250 agent rankings for transaction sides. A licensed Realtor since 1987, Aston ranks in the top one-half of 1 percent of the more than 1 million Realtors nationwide. She is a leader in the local real estate industry, serving as president of the Manatee Association of Realtors in 2007 and on the board of directors from 2000 to 2008. 

RE/MAX Alliance Group

[Relocation]  DWY Landscape Architects Celebrates 15 Years

DWY Landscape Architects is marking its 15-year anniversary this month and kicking off a yearlong celebration campaign by unveiling an anniversary logo designed by Jim Keaton of Gardner Keaton, Inc. A move to a modern office space at 300 S. Orange Avenue puts DWY directly across the street from the new home of Center for Architecture Sarasota.
 
Founded in 1999 by David Young, ASLA, DWY is recognized for modern landscapes with a clear connection to each project’s site and architectural style. It is the attention to detail in plant selection combined with Young’s signature hardscape features, green walls and water elements that have garnered local and national attention. What began as a small practice with a focus on residential estate design 15 years ago has evolved into a landscape architectural firm with a portfolio that includes museums, resort developments, campus master plans, parks and streetscapes. The new office address is 300 South Orange Avenue, Sarasota, FL, 34236. Phone number and other contact information remains the same.
 

DWY Landscape Architects

[Letter from Frank Brenner]  Arrogance and Enablement

On the occasion of the dismissal of my second complaint against Michael Barfield charging him with unlawful practice of law (labeling himself a “legal consultant”), I received from him an unsolicited email impertinently addressing me by my first name (“Hi Frank”) and concluding with the sarcastic gloat of “Hope to see you soon!” Since I am neither surprised nor disturbed by Barfield’s boorish behavior, where am I going with this? I wish to document that, despite his undisguised looting of the city, he feels so secure in the loving embrace of government officials and others (evidenced by photographs) so free to conduct his plunder unopposed that he sets no limit on the arrogance he displays to those who oppose his pillage. To my utter astonishment, Michael Barfield, a serial felon with 68 criminal convictions, described by a federal judge as “a con man’s con man,” has not only been tolerated, he has been and is being enabled by some who should know better, including those elected to serve the city and county he stalks. Why do these individuals labor to confer a false respectability upon such a knave? Do they honestly believe he is a force for good government? Hard to imagine. Have they lost sight of the fact that one is judged by the company he keeps—at election or any other time? What do you think?

Frank Brenner, Sarasota 



James Griffin, "Prelude to a Miracle," Oil on canvas, 50" x 50", Dabbert Gallery, 76 South Palm Ave., Sarasota, 941-955-1316

[BREAKFAST SYMPOSIUM]  SB2: Regional Philanthropy
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Join SRQ | The Magazine tomorrow, Thursday, July 17 from 7:30am-9am at The Francis. Leaders in the regional giving and giving back industries, John Annis, Vice President of Community Investment, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Veronica Brady, Senior Vice President for Philanthropy, Gulf Coast Community, Sandra Frank, Chief Executive Officer, All Faiths Food Bank Foundation, and Bob Rosinsky, President and CEO of Goodwill Manasota will share their insights on the philanthropic dynamics of the community, resource development to meet new needs, and trends in the non-profit sector. 

Get Tickets

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

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