Urban planner Duany looks ahead, gives Vero Beach a history lesson on downtowns' growth

VERO BEACH — The crowd got a history lesson Monday. They'd packed into the Heritage Center to hear urban planner Andrés Duany explain why downtown needs to be rejuvenated.

"What I'd like to do is raise the standard of knowledge as the first presentation," said Duany at the first of four meetings this week which are intended to lay the groundwork for a downtown master plan. "I want to show you what has actually happened to our cities, why they have happened and why some cities have actually done better than others."

Downtown's downturn comes down to one simple fact, according to Duany.

Suburbia — in this case areas of unincorporated Indian River County — was highly subsidized in the 20th century, allowing it to expand and flourish. Downtowns didn't have the luxury of those subsidies to help them grow.

Duany may have opened with a history lesson for the more than 180 people gathered to hear his initial thoughts, but he offered his main theme in six words.

"Get government out of the way."

Competition in Indian River

Duany is looking to the future and how to get more people to call downtown home. Yet there are roadblocks.

"The lesson of today is that your downtown is competing with the county," said Duany, referring to those unincorporated areas. "We have a completely asymmetrical situation in which no matter how much you love your downtown, you have to put up with a lot to live there, and it is easier to live in the unincorporated county."

That, he said, is because it's easier in the county to find a home or commercial building that already meets local codes.

The fix, he said, is to remove impediments and release the constraints that make it difficult to operate downtown, citing challenges in bringing buildings into compliance with building and housing codes, among others.

Young professionals are the lifeblood of a renewed downtown, and housing for them has been a hot-button issue, Duany said.

"I think the shops (downtown) are taking off. However, housing is not following suit," he said. "Currently there is a 17-unit-per-acre limit. We need to raise the density to bring people into downtown."

Raising hope

The public came armed with questions on everything from the Arts Village to parking to signs.

Local artist Ross Power wanted to know what role the Arts Village will have in downtown.

"Main streets need to gather people," responded Duany. "The Arts Village can bring people together, but do not force someone to buy."

Barbara Ruddy, a longtime community advocate, asked if music could play a part in downtown's next chapter.

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More: Urban planner: The future of downtown Vero Beach lies in attracting young adults

While skirting a direct answer, Duany called music a "class solvent," something that cuts across boundaries and unites.

Duany is expected to take what he learned Monday and build on it for each subsequent meeting this week.

Meetings are scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at the Community Center.

A sense of hopefulness filled the room following the meeting.

"He gives hope and I it feels like something is going to get done," said Jurgen Schwanitz, owner of ACT Computers. "I am excited to see how the rest of the week goes."

Nick Slater is TCPalm's Indian River County Watchdog reporter. You can reach him at Nick.Slater@tcpalm.com and 224-830-2875.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Vero Beach downtown meetings kick off Monday at Heritage Center