39 replies to this topic

[stjoe]

very nice

[gibson]

stjoe, on Mar 17 2008, 03:13 PM, said:

very nice

The All Saints area's bug needs to spread.  Drove through yesterday and the architecture should be all up and down Gaines and the surrounding downtown area.

[Karen@AllSaints]

I'm so glad you like All Saints Square -- M. Conn did a lovely job with the conceptual renderings.  I'm Karen & I'm the Project Director for All Saints @ CWHIP (Community Workforce Hoising Innovation Pilot Program) -- which selected Tallahassee -- and All Saints to recived $5 million in construction subsidies to help make these 42 units affordable for "Essential Services Personnel" (more on this later).

What is really exciting for us is that this development will really embody some concepts of green building and urban infill that seem to be all the buzz these days, but will make this downtown neighborhood truly walkable for those who want to kick the commute.  I have lived in Myers Park for 8 years & really, really love this part of town.  

We are also delighted to point out that this state wide competitive grant cycle was established to preference (thus to help) "high cost & high growth" counties.  Since Leon county was ranked "tier 3" in both of these categories, we had to make up a substantial number of points (that we had to stipulate because of our location in N. Florida) in the "Innovation" category.  All Saints Square is the only project that scored 100 out of 100 points for "Innovation" (more on this later and we are the only project to win funding north of Tampa or Orlando!  We have faced some awesome (as in "extremely daunting") obstacles thus far, but we are thrilled to still be in this thing.

The effect of this HUGE RECOGNITION of the concept that All Saints can contribute to T-town's downtown character (AND incorportate an historic structure in adaptive re-use . . . we're *so green* we even recycle whole buildings!) is that when we safely cruise through (cross your fingers if you believe in that sort of thing) the appeals & credit underwriting process (lengthy & complex), then we can begin constructing one of the coolest digs in town.  I know this board discourages mention of pre-sale, but I should say that we are contempating that portion of the building cycle in the coming weeks & you may certainly feel free to ask me more -- preferably at my : karenaviva [at] hot [mail] .com account.

We are seeking City & County employees (esp. EMTs & law enforcement, but certainly not limited), teachers (& professors) & hospital employees (in any medical-type job) as residents -- these units will house those who work in jobs "essential" to Tallahassee's economy (ask if you want to know more) & who might like to benefit from having a mortgage substantially below a unit built for the regulated free market

I'll save some details about what we think All Saints will be for future posts -- the project will always be evolving (even after built, I'm sure!)  I worked with Dan Winchester 10 years ago on his first County Commission campaign & we remain friends (even after the CWHIP process!) and I will personally pledge to give every attention to any ideas you may have -- as our "eyes on the street" -- we would love to learn what you think is of value -- this has been very much a "bottom up" project in every sense.

Thanks for letting me be here . . . I'll lay low if you'd like or blather away if you'd rather!

Karen, All Saints Square @ CWHIP

[TD]

Thanks For the info Karen, Do you know Randall Webster?

[Karen@AllSaints]

TD, on May 27 2008, 12:27 PM, said:

Thanks For the info Karen, Do you know Randall Webster?

Mmmmm . . . no?  Maybe I should?  Tell me . . .

[TD]

Karen@AllSaints, on May 27 2008, 02:24 PM, said:

Mmmmm . . . no?  Maybe I should?  Tell me . . .

No not necessarily, He was my professor this last semester at FSU. He also works locally in affordable housing, and was telling us about C-whip and other programs he regularly filed to try to get funding for the developments hes working with.

[Karen@AllSaints]

TD, on May 27 2008, 03:12 PM, said:

No not necessarily, He was my professor this last semester at FSU. He also works locally in affordable housing, and was telling us about C-whip and other programs he regularly filed to try to get funding for the developments hes working with.

Ah . . . I teach History at FSU & that's how I got interested in the Coke Building -- my special interest is public history.  We have an intern in our office who in studying planning & I'll ask him . . .

CWHIP was only funded last year & this year -- no more -- it was a casualty of the budget cuts

It is a very interesting idea, though, and if you are interested in the mechanics of housing grants & the theory of "granting" money for specific housing uses, stop in sometime & we can chat!

The office number is 222-4063 -- we are usually in from 9-ish -5-ish unless we are out

KR

[TD]

Karen@AllSaints, on May 28 2008, 12:17 AM, said:

Ah . . . I teach History at FSU & that's how I got interested in the Coke Building -- my special interest is public history.  We have an intern in our office who in studying planning & I'll ask him . . .

CWHIP was only funded last year & this year -- no more -- it was a casualty of the budget cuts

It is a very interesting idea, though, and if you are interested in the mechanics of housing grants & the theory of "granting" money for specific housing uses, stop in sometime & we can chat!

The office number is 222-4063 -- we are usually in from 9-ish -5-ish unless we are out

KR

Cool thanks for the offer

[poonther]

The Cloisters in All Saints has gotten their first retail tenant.  It's a bar called Fermentation Lounge.  Has anyone been there yet?  I've not been, but several people I know have and they all say it's a great place.  I've been told their beer selection rivals that of Leon Pub, but this place is smoke-free.  They also have wine too.  I hope they can catch on in that location.  I was told they will be part of the stops on the First Friday tours which should help folks find out they are there.  I plan to get by there w/in the next few weeks.

Fermentation Lounge Blog

[TD]

poonther, on Oct 18 2008, 11:44 AM, said:

The Cloisters in All Saints has gotten their first retail tenant.  It's a bar called Fermentation Lounge.  Has anyone been there yet?  I've not been, but several people I know have and they all say it's a great place.  I've been told their beer selection rivals that of Leon Pub, but this place is smoke-free.  They also have wine too.  I hope they can catch on in that location.  I was told they will be part of the stops on the First Friday tours which should help folks find out they are there.  I plan to get by there w/in the next few weeks.

Fermentation Lounge Blog

Very cool blog, looks nice, may stop by

[seminole]

Just what we need, another destination to get drunk.  Hope this will function as a sports bar too - or I couldn't care less.

[poonther]

seminole, on Oct 19 2008, 05:41 PM, said:

Just what we need, another destination to get drunk. Hope this will function as a sports bar too - or I couldn't care less.

I doubt this place will function as a sports bar, just doesn't have the vibe from what I can tell by their blog.  On the other hand, I could care less about another sports bar in town seminole, but I'm glad when we do get more sports bars in town so people like you will have new and different options.   Also I and many others I know can go into a bar w/out leaving drunk.

Seriously though I think the true point of this posting is that All-Saints finally got its first retail tenant.  Now let's see if it works out.......

[seminole]

poonther, on Oct 20 2008, 10:14 AM, said:

I doubt this place will function as a sports bar, just doesn't have the vibe from what I can tell by their blog.  On the other hand, I could care less about another sports bar in town seminole, but I'm glad when we do get more sports bars in town so people like you will have new and different options.   Also I and many others I know can go into a bar w/out leaving drunk.

Seriously though I think the true point of this posting is that All-Saints finally got its first retail tenant.  Now let's see if it works out.......

Actually, I'm not a drinker and I hate bars.  But I do love my sports though.

[mracca]

Well I AM a drinker and I love Bars.  So my wife and I will proby check this place out this weekend.  Thanks for posting this great news.  Little local owned places like this is exactly the type of places that I want to see on or near Gaines.

[poonther]

mracca, on Oct 21 2008, 08:37 AM, said:

Well I AM a drinker and I love Bars. So my wife and I will proby check this place out this weekend. Thanks for posting this great news. Little local owned places like this is exactly the type of places that I want to see on or near Gaines.

I'd enjoy hearing your impressions of the place mracca when you get a chance next week.  You guys planning on going Fri or Sat night?

[mracca]

poonther, on Oct 21 2008, 01:20 PM, said:

I'd enjoy hearing your impressions of the place mracca when you get a chance next week.  You guys planning on going Fri or Sat night?

The goal is for Friday Night..... hopefully.

[poonther]

mracca, on Oct 21 2008, 01:29 PM, said:

The goal is for Friday Night..... hopefully.

Well I can't make any promises, but keep an eye out for me while you are there.  You do remember what I look like?

[fivesfella]

poonther, on Oct 18 2008, 09:44 AM, said:

The Cloisters in All Saints has gotten their first retail tenant.  It's a bar called Fermentation Lounge.  Has anyone been there yet?  I've not been, but several people I know have and they all say it's a great place.  I've been told their beer selection rivals that of Leon Pub, but this place is smoke-free.  They also have wine too.  I hope they can catch on in that location.  I was told they will be part of the stops on the First Friday tours which should help folks find out they are there.  I plan to get by there w/in the next few weeks.

It looks too hipstery for me, but I hope it goes well. Always glad to see another good watering hole around. But I do have to question the idea that their beer selection rivals Leon Pub. It seems like FL has 8 beers on tap - Leon carries over 40 (out of their 200+ options overall). To anyone who's been to FL, what's the bottle selection like?

[poonther]

fivesfella, on Oct 22 2008, 10:56 AM, said:

It looks too hipstery for me, but I hope it goes well. Always glad to see another good watering hole around. But I do have to question the idea that their beer selection rivals Leon Pub. It seems like FL has 8 beers on tap - Leon carries over 40 (out of their 200+ options overall). To anyone who's been to FL, what's the bottle selection like?

Glad to hear you can appreciate something that doesn't fall into your interest range FF.  Good point about taps, is it really up to 40 over at Leon Pub?  I was there (Leon) on Sunday for a private function, but failed to count the taps.   BTW: Does the gentleman named Newman or Newsome(or something like that) have any ownership in the bar or does he just sort of live there?  He was surprised that I beat him at pool, but was a gracious loser.

[fivesfella]

poonther, on Oct 22 2008, 10:25 AM, said:

Glad to hear you can appreciate something that doesn't fall into your interest range FF.  Good point about taps, is it really up to 40 over at Leon Pub?  I was there (Leon) on Sunday for a private function, but failed to count the taps. :)  BTW: Does the gentleman named Newman or Newsome(or something like that) have any ownership in the bar or does he just sort of live there?  He was surprised that I beat him at pool, but was a gracious loser.

I go to the Pub once in a while, but not often enough to know the owner's name. I know what he looks like, though, and it can best be described as "tv movie bounty hunter". Fringed brown leather comes to mind.

But yep, they have over 40 on tap and a couple hundred more in the coolers. And I always wind up with PBR anyway, so there you go.