Harris says she'll keep chasing housing money...(Katherine Harris)

[SoCalDem]

http://www.venicegondolier.com/NewsArchive3/121804/vn5.htm

12/18/04

Harris says she'll keep chasing housing money


Despite the failure to obtain a federal Hope VI housing grant for the Jamie Poe housing project in downtown Sarasota, Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Longboat Key, said she planned to continue her support for that and other affordable housing issues during her next two years in Congress.

Harris appeared before Sarasota County commissioners at Tuesday's county commission meeting to provide the board with a state-of-the-district report.

As accomplishments, Harris pointed to the American Dream Downpayment Act, which passed six months after she introduced the bill, and legislation that will bring a national veterans cemetery to Southwest Florida. Harris also said shemanaged to obtain $50 million in funding for various projects in the district.

Harris said she would continue to focus on beach renourishment in Venice and North County because of its importance to tourism and the local economy, and funding for the Englewood Interstate Connector.


AND THEN THERE'S THIS.... This might be some of the "other funding" she got for this RICH county:puke: Too bad they cannot come up with money to help poor people too :(

12/18/04
http://www.venicegondolier.com/NewsArchive3/121804/vn13.htm
County buys Lemon Bay waterfront property


It's long been a goal for Sarasota County commissioners to provide waterfront access to Lemon Bay from Dearborn Street. On Wednesday, they achieved that goal, unanimously approving a contract to purchase 1 acre of land at the west end of Dearborn Street at the intersection with Harbour Lane. The county will pay Brian Burtch $730,000 for the property, with a closing to take place within 45 days if an inspection shows no problems with the property. "This is a good deal folks," said commission chair Jon Thaxton. "This is prime waterfront property."

The contract with Burtch was not the only land deal consummated by commissioners Wednesday in the Englewood area. The board also unanimously approved the purchase of an 18.5-acre parcel between Elm Street and McCall Road from Ferold Davis and his brother, Floyd Davis, for $800,000. Once part of the slough that ran through North Englewood, the property is near a flood-prone area, and the county plans to develop the site into a regional stormwater facility for the greater Englewood area.

"It'll allow development on Dearborn Street to proceed without postage stamp stormwater facilities," said Steve Suau, general manager of the county's Center for Watershed Management. "There's a lot of multiple benefits here."As an example, Suau said, the potential exists to preserve a portion of the property as greenspace with a possible trail.


Deep down

Commissioners took action on the two contracts during a discussion Wednesday afternoon dealing with several issues regarding the Englewood Community Redevelopment Area. During a routine update on CRA activities over the past year, CRA Coordinator Chris Davis told the board it would cost an estimated $500,000 to bury the power lines along Dearborn Street.

Earlier this year, commissioner David Mills had asked Davis to investigate the possibility of burying the lines to improve the look of the street with the installation of the decorative street lighting. "We've got to learn more information about this," Mills said. "This is just unacceptable." Commissioner Nora Patterson said she wasn't surprised by the estimate and told her fellow commissioners that they should pursue the project.

"It'll change the whole look of the area," Patterson said.

snip....


You can e-mail Warren Richardson at: [e-mail].


By Warren Richardson

Sarasota County Editor

[Chipper Chat]

1. I'm sure sweetie-Kathy can get all the housing money she wants

from the city of Carmel Indiana. All she has to do is ask the mayor of Carmel (or not ask him and just tell Floridians she did).