By Christina Mendoza, AICP As one of Florida’s most unique and vibrant communities, demand for office, housing and services in downtown St. Petersburg, or DTSP, continues to grow. At the same time, people are looking for more ways to travel in and around the community in a safe and efficient manner. Therefore, now more than…
By Nousheen Rahman Forward Pinellas and the Pinellas County Department of Housing & Community Development have partnered to develop an Urban Design Services Pilot Program for 2022-2023. Urban design encompasses many things but is ultimately all about creating the physical spaces that we live in and includes everything from the design of buildings, pedestrian paths,…
By Linda Fisher, AICP The 2022 Florida Legislative Session ended on March 14. While it received the most attention for a handful of bills dealing with controversial topics such as LGBTQ education and abortion, the session also saw passage of new “local preemption” bills that will affect how local communities govern themselves. The bills below…
By Jared Austin Attend any planning-related meeting and I guarantee someone will say the phrase “growth and redevelopment.” Whether it’s the gorgeous sunshine, incredible amenities, or the vibrant communities, we are constantly planning for an ever-growing population. Over the past decade, 2.7million people have moved to Florida and as the 7th largest county, Pinellas has…
By Linda Fisher, AICP When you hear the words “industrial land,” what do you think of? If the words conjure up images of smokestacks and noisy factories, think again. In Pinellas County, industrial land holds everything from financial service offices to software developers to research labs. And while we have plenty of manufacturing, the technology…
Calling artists of all ages! We need your help to design artwork for Safe Streets Pinellas. Now through August 31, 2020, create and submit your artwork depicting what #SafeStreets means to you. Artwork can include a drawing, painting, photo, computer graphic, or other piece of art. Get creative! The Winner’s art will be featured on…
~~Forward Pinellas launches survey to shape the vision of their community~~ Ever wish there were more opportunities to bike in Downtown St. Pete? Maybe you live nearby and would like a way to safely access and enjoy downtown? Or maybe you would like an easier drive from your work to museums? Now is the time…
Do you know what the flashing red hand means when you’re crossing the street? Does everyone have to wear a bicycle helmet while riding? Do drivers have to yield to pedestrians only in marked crosswalks? Test Your Street Smarts! Take our #SafeStreets quizzes to test your knowledge and see how much you know about traffic…
Epidemic Event Shapes Community Transportation Notions Extreme events have evolved within the last several months as COVID-19 rattled the world with its unparallel imprint. Forward Pinellas staff expresses sincere sympathy to the individuals and families affected by the devastating tragedies across the globe and here in Pinellas County. In our role planning for transportation and…
A resurgence of people wanting to live in thriving downtowns has created a demand for space in urban areas, housing shortages, and increased rents and mortgages. As more upwardly mobile workers are living in more constrained urban areas, demand also grows for storage space close to urban downtowns. Urban planners must grapple with potential land…