Letters to the Editor

Land-swap deal has shortcomings

I am writing to express my opinion on the pending Progress Point/Winter Park land-swap deal being considered. I feel the proposed swap is very unfavorable to the city for the following reasons:

1. The staff recommendation to approve the exchange agreement contains a rationale to resolve the major differences in the city’s and the developer’s property appraisals. The unbiased city appraisal, dated June 22, shows a difference ranging between $1.03 million to $1.8 million in the two properties, with the city property the more valuable. As you might expect, the developer’s appraisal shows a mere $200,000 difference. Progress Point’s appraisals showed a difference of only $200,000 while the city’s showed $1.8 million. Staff has suggested taking the average of the two appraisals which is a gap of $1.03 million. The staff then simply averages the two appraisals. What? How scientific is that? Has the developer’s appraisal been investigated? Are we talking apples and apples? Look at the difference in acreage: 5 versus 3.77; look at the shape of the properties: a contiguous block versus the triangular, hacked-up shape of the developer’s property. How about the more desirable setting of the Morse property? No assessed value has been assigned to that near as I can tell. Should another appraisal be done by the city? And why should we be giving credit for demolition? Why is 75 percent of the total value of the conservation easement deducted? It would add to the beauty of the site. A final difference of $396,000 after averaging the two appraisals is an insult to the city.
2. The fiscal impact for the city as detailed in the staff recommendation is not excusive to the Morse property. A similar development of the Progress Point property would result in similar revenues to the city.
3. Why is there such a rush to judgment here? Are we being pushed to meet some unknown deadline to “lock in” some unknown company’s potential “national headquarters” relocation to the new office building to be built by the developer? What if the company changes its mind? There should be at least a memorandum of understanding between the developer and this company that can be revealed to the commission. Progress Point LLC did mention the name of its client. The major tenants have also disclosed their identities publicly. And you should be giving top consideration to the potential for the Morse property, including city use (see point 4)
4. There is very little land remaining within the city that offers the features of the Morse property, such as contiguous block of land, a beautiful park setting and a central location. Do not forget that once this property is lost, any ideas for the city’s use of the property are gone. It has been discussed, as a long-range plan, to possibly use this property for a new City Hall complex, or a new library. Can you honestly say that the Progress Point property would be as ideal as the Morse property for either of these future developments? How can you even consider the Progress Point property for a new library? It’s a retail business area on a very busy road, distant from the population center. It certainly is not as convenient or attractive as is the current library or the Morse location. How do you fit a new city hall the size of our current one on the disjointed Progress Point property? And what if it needs to be larger than the current one? Have you thought about any of these issues? One of the unique features of our city is the proximity of so many businesses and public buildings to the city core; lest we forget that when the city was planned in the 1880s, a requirement was to locate as much as possible next to the rail station, within walking distance, similar to so many old European cities — it’s one of the most outstanding features of Winter Park. Why should we give up on such a grand plan for future city use just to appease a developer?

Lastly, I would urge each of you to consider recusing yourself from a vote on this very important decision if you have, or have had, personal or business relations with any officer of Progress Point LLC.

—Richard Rudy

Winter Park

A leg up on SPCA fundraising

My husband, Anthony, and I first became involved with the SPCA of Central Florida in February 2003 when we adopted our first dog, a 2-year-old English foxhound whose family decided they couldn’t take care of him anymore. We named him Franklin after Benjamin Franklin, whose statue is perched on a bench at the University of Pennsylvania where my husband and I lunched daily during our 10 years of school in Philadelphia. We were so grateful that Franklin had a safe place to stay while he was waiting to be adopted that we decided we wanted to become more involved with the SPCA. The more we learned, the more we liked it. The SPCA of Central Florida is strictly a local organization — they receive no national funding — so all the money they raise goes to helping needy pets right here at home. They are also a no-kill shelter; any healthy, adoptable animal has a home at the SPCA for as long as it takes for them to find the perfect “forever” home.

Initially, our involvement was limited to dropping off dog food and pet supplies at the local shelter. Then, in October 2003, we decided to walk in one of their fundraisers, the Wiggle Waggle Walk. We put together a “pack” of a few pet lovers and called ourselves Franklin’s Friends. We raised only a little more than $500 but won the award for the top fundraising pack. We were horrified to see that the top pack raised so little money for such a wonderful cause. So we vowed to work harder and raise more money the next year. Since then, we have adopted two additional dogs from the SPCA of Central Florida — Katie and Juliette — and rescued a fourth dog, Annie, from abandonment. As our four-legged family grew, so did Franklin’s Friends, growing bigger and stronger while winning the award for top fundraising pack every year since 2003. And how far we have come. Last year we had a pack of more than 50 people and raised more than $57,000. Such a far cry from the $500 we raised the first year. Just imagine how many needy pets those dollars have helped!

Our pack is able to raise so much money (while still holding full-time jobs and living full lives) through creative initiatives. In addition to approaching friends and family for donations, we have a corporate sponsorship program, run fundraising booths at local farmer’s markets and fairs, and put together several “special events.” This year we had a bowling fundraiser, a fashion show, a dance fundraiser and a family fun day with dog wash, food trucks, face painting, a plant sale and more than 30 retail vendors. Ten Thousand Villages and California Pizza Kitchen each held shopping events where they donated 20 percent of sales to the SPCA of Central Florida. We also participated in Macy’s “Shop for a Cause” for the first time, which raised more than $6,000!

One of my favorite special events this year is “Tails on the Avenue.” This fundraiser debuted as “Tails on the Town” three years ago. It is a shopping and dining out fundraiser where people buy a $15 coupon (all proceeds to the SPCA). This entitles them to discounts at participating businesses and restaurants (each business chose what discount to offer). Last year we had more than 80 participating businesses and raised more than $3,000. This year we decided to focus the event on Park Avenue businesses and change the name to “Tails on the Avenue.” The coupon is valid at 11 Park Avenue businesses for the entire month of October. We kicked off coupon sales on Oct. 1 with a festive fundraising table outside The Doggie Door. We look forward to making the event even bigger and better next year! Visit www.OrlandoPets.org or www.franklinsfriends.info for more information.

—Monisha Seth

Maitland