Except for business deliveries, only golf carts should be permitted. Minimize the lanes thereby increasing pedestrian traffic. Oh, no skate boarding or roller blades should be permitted.

I like the idea. The outdoor dining would be wonderfully enhanced! How would the Green Market folks get their wares into the park? I disagree with golf carts...they need parking spaces, lanes etc.

Might be good. However, a serious review of other communities which have done so could prevent mistakes and "re do's". Not a time for wasteful government experiments.

I love the idea! Maybe try it just on weekends or during the winter months to start and see how it works. What about the idea of closing the road between Douglas and Broadway? I know there is parking in this area, but that is where most of the activity occurs. I live in downtown and making this area more pedestrian friendly should be a top priority.....get us a grocery store!!!!

Once again, parking is the issue. We want to bring people here but there is no place for them to park other than our neighborhoods. And golf carts do not belong on the streets but on the courses they were named for.

That would leave us with only one east/west street through the downtown area and cut back on access to businesses and parking. Street parking is already at a premium. I don't think this is a good idea. Have any other cities made a permanent drastic move like this?

While this sounds quaint, many logistics would have to be taken into account. To close the street a plan for rerouting traffic would have to be well thought out and tested. Scotland and Grant St are not currently designed to handle that kind of load. Alt US 19/Edgewater/Bayshore are already pushing the limits of what they can do. I think Douglas and Highland would have to remain open as feeders and allow traffic to pass through. As for all other modes of transport I think you leave them alone. Electric carts, bikes, skate boards, skates etc let them in. Service people like myself can get permission from the city if we need to bring our service vehicle in to do work, it is not a problem. The real test is to be asked of the merchants downtown. Can closing the street bring in more business or will it put you out of business? We can dream all we want but we have to keep the merchants business's in mind when making such a radical change. If we plan well enough it could work!

If this is thoroughly researched and well planned, I think it could be a great idea! As it is now, we can walk along Main St faster than we can drive so why not make it pedestrian only?.

The streets are blocked off now temporarily during community events. That seems to work. What is the point during other more quiet times when the stores can attract customers who can park right at their doors? Even with a parking garage when Hyde Park was at it's height of popularity and the shops were filled the streets were still open. St. Armand's Square has open streets. The merchants need to be polled and the budget needs to be examined to see if Dunedin wants to pay for a large parking garage located somewhere in the middle of the retail corridor--not blocks away from the core or at one end or the other in my opinion.

I have only been a resident of Dunedin for 3 years, and I like when they close down the streets for events. I can see the amount of work saved by doing this. If it is a positive affect for both the city and its residents, I would support it.

Many downtown areas in Europe are closed for traffic. However big parking garages line the outskirts of these "Fussgaengerzohnen". Also, since Dunedin has many restaurants on Main Street, it might effect their business negatively esp. for people who just park in front of their place to have a quick lunch. Delivery is usually no problem, because it can be done in the early morning hours. Dunedin has a lot to think about and should consult the effected businesses

There's plenty of pedestrian access as it is. I don't think closing Main St. permanently is the way to go at all. It's not a high traffic area right now, it doesn't impede pedestrian traffic, accidents are at a minimum, and it seems unnecessary to focus or waste City Gov't energy and thought on right now.
Vendors need parking and I agree that parking is at a premium. If we take away parking, or make it more difficult to transverse downtown, businesses may see a drop in profits. If not for parking and car traffic, stores would not see many customers during those rainy days we tend to have in FL. Did we forget that? City Gov't? You have bigger fish to fry. Get on it. BTW, tailoring a downtown area to be more convenient to residents' golf carts rather than for out of town visitors or Dunedin citizens who live more than a golf cart ride away is absurd.

Remember the old adage "Be careful what you wish for" and PLEASE do not do this without very careful thought and study. The beauty of Downtown is that it easily accessible for all today. There are already parking issues but folks can deal with that. Increased security for the Pinellas Trail would have to be a requirement and that would need to include input from the Sheriff. The Merchants Association and the Chamber of Commerce are among the strongest and most active in the area, and they too should be involved in any discussions of this sort. If this is done then the "Special Event" feeling would be lost, like for Mardi Gras, WIne the Blues, Parades and other such functions. If the Downtown area is closed off and made pedestrian then it should be exactly that, no golf carts allowed. There are bicycle racks today and those would probably need to be expanded. Most important would be the impact on the business community because without them Downtown would die like many other communities in this economic environment. It is absolutely imperative that they have a strong input and the politicians need to put egos and their preferences aside for the good of the thriving Downtown business community. Many solid restaurants and bars exist today in the Downtown area and this helps to enhance the already strong Arts and Leisure reputation that Downtown enjoys. Many shops exist today as well. What will the closure do to them?

I think it is an idea worth exploring, Trying to drive down that stretch is a challenge anyway. Could we periodically have food trucks in that area?

I really appreciate the thoughtful feedback being received about this concept I suggested. Btw, the Virginia Lane opening, parallel to the section of Main Street closure, would remain open for those accesses along Virginia Lane, which would remain open with my concept. My thought is to explore having the one-block pedestrian mall, with outside seating, art, and a quiet, pedestrian-friendly section of downtown Dunedin where people and pets could relax in a comfortable outside setting, and which affords outside dining in an area which now doesn't exist because of narrow sidewalks and rapid car traffic. It's meant to focus on people instead of cars. And regarding lost parking, there is plenty of public parking within one block of the section of Main Street under discussion. In fact, many who currently shop along this strip of Main Street already park in these convenient parking lots. And for those concerned about the green market, I have heard nothing but positive comments from them. Keep up the comments!!! Thanks, Ron Barnette, City Commissioner

I really appreciate the thoughtful feedback being received about this concept I suggested. Btw, the Virginia Lane opening, parallel to the section of Main Street closure, would remain open for those accesses along Virginia Lane, which would remain open with my concept. My thought is to explore having the one-block pedestrian mall, with outside seating, art, and a quiet, pedestrian-friendly section of downtown Dunedin where people and pets could relax in a comfortable outside setting, and which affords outside dining in an area which now doesn't exist because of narrow sidewalks and rapid car traffic. It's meant to focus on people instead of cars. And regarding lost parking, there is plenty of public parking within one block of the section of Main Street under discussion. In fact, many who currently shop along this strip of Main Street already park in these convenient parking lots. And for those concerned about the green market, I have heard nothing but positive comments from them. Keep up the comments!!! Thanks, Ron Barnette, City Commissioner

So, Ron...where are we with the San Jose students having to cross 8 lanes of traffic? Have the city commissioners or the mayor spoken at a School Board meeting? Is the issue of our children's safety fixed or has the commission moved on to more important things like this one?

The city already closes traffic when it's appropriate, there isn't a need to do it all the time. For a mom like myself, I would be far less likely to visit any merchants or restaurants downtown if I knew I was going to have to park 6 blocks away. During events it's part of the deal, but otherwise it would kill downtown for me. If it's just a small one block area, then I guess I would ask what's the point? You would be rerouting traffic and losing spaces for what seems like a small gain. I think downtown is awesome now, and I enjoy it frequently. If it isn't broke, why fix it?

Excellent idea, it will keep people safe including children, have the people park their vehicles in an authorized parking area and walk down, it will be good for their health.

Hello Ron, I am not sure your correct on this, I live and work in the middle of this area of downtown. There does not exist any problem of the "one-block pedestrian area, with outside seating, art, and a quiet, pedestrian-friendly section of downtown Dunedin where people and pets could relax in a comfortable outside setting". All the restaurants except Flanagan's Irish pub have there own out door patio's for patrons. Also there should be concern for retail shops and the effect of street closures . I have operated our store now for six years and every time Main street has closed early for events we have almost no sales for the day, infact many of our customers shop at Kina because they "drove by" and saw our window and came in to purchase items. Regarding the out door mall sounds great I am in... , the reality is there does not exist enough retail development currently in this part of downtown. My opinion the city should finish the parking garage at Highland and Virginia St. first before closing our section of Downtown. I am not saying this is not a good Idea its just not the right time . There needs to be much more development in the way of retail and creating a outdoor mall core first.

N0. I will make sure to fight against it for all my friends who are in wheelchairs and have a hard enough time going to downtown main street. This will make it impossible for the weakest of them. Sorry, I advocate for the most forgotten. Have a good day.

N0. I will make sure to fight against it for all my friends who are in wheelchairs and have a hard enough time going to downtown main street. This will make it impossible for the weakest of them. Sorry, I advocate for the most forgotten. Have a good day.

Cup of light, that is the most absurd comment I've yet to see posted today and trust me there are some pretty absurd comments posted at times. First, this is all speculative. Merely an exchange of thoughts and ideas with the intention of betterment not belittlemeant. Second, the closing of downtown streets has been heralded across the country and world by the ADA constantly singing it's praises. Finally, the choice will most likely be a financial decision based on projected increases in income for merchants, should that fact be proven after considerable study and review, combined with the shared vision of the community as a whole. No one here has mentioned excluding or hampering anyone with the exception of one persons comments about golf carts and skates. You may be a bit premature with your picket signs but who knows.

I travel around the usa quite a bit and have seen many "closed street" downtown projects. Makes money twice for the contractors, when they put it in, and again when they tear it out. Will kill most downtown businesses.

Leave Main Street alone. Closing it will kill traffic and customers, making it much easier for former customer to go to Skinner and drive past at 40 mph....

I do think it would cause more traffic in the surrounding neighborhood...not good! Have you noticed how packed the small neighborhood streets are during Mardi Gras. The small quaint streets look like parking lots. I know normally there is not as many people but people take the easiest way and will park in our neighborhood.

Ron, Thanks for your kind reply. My point is not intended as criticism, its just that I have a unique perspective of the 400 block downtown as I am always here living and working. So I have a front row view of downtown and all that happens here. Because of Pioneer park and Wegarth park we already have very pedestrian friendly spaces. Add to that we have the slowest activity along Main Street because of the lack of real estate development in the way of shops, so we rely on drive back traffic to attract customers to our businesses. The only way this could change to benifit everyone would be to develope retail shops from Highland to Douglas on the north side of Main Street first to create the outdoor mall that would then attract patrons.

Sounds like a sure way to kill business, the wrong thing for this economy. Great idea (1) if everyone knows where a business is already and magically knows when a new business moves in, and (2) if everyone is fit as a fiddle and has no difficulty getting around. But this is a retirement community. New people moving in all the time, who will often choose a business based on driving by and seeing it. Older people. Actually sounds like it would be de facto discrimination to those who aren't handicapped, but are a bit slower, whose knees and hips are getting a bit painful, who have any of the problems that come with aging, who can make it from the car to the store as long as it is close by, but will just go elsewhere if they have to walk a block. I suspect closing downtown Dunedin to cars would result in less business, less income, and less jobs, just based on the demographics. Don't do with without a lot of research and surveying.

Why not Douglas to Broadway instead? You could still access the nice big parking lot off Douglas north side of Main. It's a more interesting section of town, frankly.

As the one who posed this concept of a selected, short section of Main Street plaza, for pedestrians to gather, I am learning much from your comments...which is precisely what I hoped for. I appreciate all the comments. My idea was to possibly enhance a people-friendly mall to assist the businesses along that segment of downtown, where many folks could gather in outside seating, for shopping, creative arts, and dining with the four or so businesses affected, and keeping Virgina Lane open for those business concerns, obviously. It just seemed like a creative concept to expand downtown to the east of Douglas Ave with an inviting, unique pedestrian setting, as many towns have done well and successfully. I appreciate much your constructive thoughts, pro and con, as this concept is explored. My intent is to learn and to listen, as I respect constructive ideas for Dunedin's future development, I assure you.
Ron Barnette,
Dunedin City Commissioner

Hi Ron,
I have brought up an ongoing issue to city staff about our reliance on "at risk parking lots". I bring this up because of the mention of pedestrian mall atmosphere. We have to work on the future of our parking initiative before we eliminate any existing parking. I love the outdoor dining/art concept, we just need to be creative. I too loose business during some street closures, but it is the activity that make Downtown Dunedin what it has become. In the big picture the events benefit everyone.

This all sounds really great but until you take care of the Southside you are setting yourself up for failure. You will be creating an area where people leave their cars and have them broken into or robbed when they go back to there cars! Take care of the Southside first, put in the right kind of parking then you could have a lil Orleans without the crime. BTW Burt my girlfriend loves your shop!

Adam said it all. The Southside should come first. Stop brushing our problems under the rug. Spend all of your creative energy on fighting crime instead of unnecessary and costly endeavors that might not work. Is revenue all you care about?

I personally love this idea, after all, the street is closed many weekends anyway! :) I visited Charlottesville Virginia last year and they had this same concept in their downtown and it was wonderful. Here's a link if you are interested: http://www.downtowncharlottesville.net/

I love driving, and walking, on Main Street. Please leave Main Street as is and don't permanently close. When I first bought my home in Dunedin, driving on Main in downtown was the clincher for me. I loved the downtown, and had I not been able to drive on Main, I wouldn't have had that same experience. Continue to close it as needed for special events, but please leave it open!

I personally love the idea. We are leaving on vacation for Playa del Carmen which main street is closed to traffic for 2 miles and plans to close for additional 5 over the next ten years. We watched this expansion happen over the last 15 years and now that area id the busiest tourist destination in all of latin america. They have a similar climate to our here in Dunedin. When you close the streets it creates the opportunity to think outside the box. Relocated parking, product delivery etc is not a problem you just ned to plan for the change. We would be the only town in this part of Florida with a safe attractive pedestrian main street which would alone would attract numerous visitors and business alike to invest in our town. Having operated our business for 21 years on Main Street we would be thrilled with this out come as it would be enormously successful. I'm ready to serve on that task force Ron. We have talked about this idea numerous times over the years and I think it's time as come!