Rick Minor: Tallahassee’s North Monroe corridor vision needs your voice

Rick Minor
·3 min read

The North Monroe corridor is Tallahassee’s No. 1 gateway; more people come through the I-10 / North Monroe interchange than any other point in the county.  Because of its high visibility, the entranceway should be welcoming, vibrant, and a reflection of Tallahassee’s promising future.  Right now, it isn’t.

Fortunately, revitalizing North Monroe is part of Leon County’s five-year strategic plan and we’re working with the city, Blueprint, law enforcement and many others to turn it around.

The Florida Department of Transportation has started installing landscaping and curbing on North Monroe Street.
The Florida Department of Transportation has started installing landscaping and curbing on North Monroe Street.

More than 400 businesses are located within the 4-mile stretch between Fred George Road and Tharpe Street. They represent a significant part of Leon County’s economy: 2.4 million square feet of retail, 618,000 square feet of office space, and 21 hotel properties with 1,865 rooms. When these businesses thrive, it elevates the surrounding neighborhoods and benefits everyone in Leon County.

Crime and homelessness are issues on North Monroe, but we’re working with the local businesses to address them. Our County District 3 office has partnered with Sheriff Walt McNeil and Property Appraiser Akin Akinyemi to establish business crime watch networks in three separate zones along the corridor.  Our next meeting, for businesses between Allen Road and Tharpe Street, will be held at 8:30 a.m. on November 2nd at the Days Inn & Suites at 2900 N. Monroe. We’ll discuss public safety and how to help those living on the street transition to stable housing.  This breakfast meeting is focused on the North Monroe businesses, but everyone is welcome.

Private investment is increasing.  Recent developments include the HCA Lake Jackson Emergency Center, the Inland Sunstop and Cumberland gas stations, and several fast casual restaurants like Culver’s and Slim Chickens.  More restaurants are coming, and even the old Barnacle Bill’s, which has long been an eyesore, is being replaced with a coffee shop called 7Brew.  This infusion of new construction can protect the value of office space and other commercial properties nearby.

The Florida Department of Transportation has started installing landscaping and curbing on North Monroe Street.
The Florida Department of Transportation has started installing landscaping and curbing on North Monroe Street.

Public investment is also increasing. The city’s new police headquarters at Martin Luther King Boulevard will be a game changer.  Between John Knox and Lakeshore Drive, the Florida Department of Transportation will install new landscaping and curbing in the medians, as well as sidewalks along the west side.  Blueprint’s Lake Jackson Greenway, running 5 miles from Lake Ella to the Lake Jackson Mounds Archeological State Park, will be a community treasure.

We also have an opportunity for additional, much-needed public investment.

Blueprint’s North Monroe Gateway project is currently focused on the corridor from I-10 going south to Tharpe, but in the coming months we’ll consider expanding the scope to include the corridor north of I-10.  To this end, our Planning Department is seeking input on the improvements needed for the North Monroe corridor, from I-10 to Capital Circle Northwest. If you’re familiar with this part of North Monroe, you can provide input directly by completing the brief online survey at www.LeonCountyFL.gov/NMonroeSurvey.  Please do so before the survey closes on Saturday, Oct. 14th.

We’re starting to turn things around for North Monroe, but we’re at a crucial point and we need your voice to build upon the momentum.  Please join us on November 2, complete the online survey, and continue to provide your input. With your help, we can make North Monroe something we can be proud of.

Leon County Commissioner Rick Minor
Leon County Commissioner Rick Minor

Leon County Commissioner Rick Minor represents District 3, the northwestern part of Leon County.  To sign up for his updates on North Monroe and other projects, please visit www.LeonCountyFL.gov/RickMinor.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Send letters to the editor (up to 200 words) or Your Turn columns (about 500 words) to letters@tallahassee.com. Please include your address for verification purposes only, and if you send a Your Turn, also include a photo and 1-2 line bio of yourself. You can also submit anonymous Zing!s at Tallahassee.com/Zing. Submissions are published on a space-available basis. All submissions may be edited for content, clarity and length, and may also be published by any part of the USA TODAY NETWORK.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Your voice is needed to help reimagine North Monroe Street corridor