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| The Heights of Tampa: William Bishop, A Better Place Group Development |
Architects, planners and developers have been trying to shape the “ideal” community long before Florida's well known “master planned communities” of Seaside in the Panhandle and Disney's Celebration.
But, as it is with so many things, what constitutes a model community is in the eye of the builder and home buyer.
So, WUSF asked three “planned community” experts to share their insights and visions.
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Arcosanti Visitor Center features Tours
and Gift Gallery. |
Paolo Soleri, 86, was born in Italy where he earned a Ph.D. in architecture from Tornino Polytechnico. He came to the United States in 1947 for a fellowship with Frank Lloyd Wright. Soleri established Cosanti, a foundation for urban planning and research. The foundation's major project is the prototypical town Arcosanti in Arizona where Soleri lives. He's known for his visionary designs including his latest: “The Lean Linear City ” which is his answer to China's loss of farmland.
William Bishop developed a love of community planning after taking a job with a Houston home builder. In Florida, Bishop worked with Newland on the master community plans for West Chase and Fish Hawk. He ventured out on his own and established A Better Place Group. The company is developing master plans for The Heights of Tampa, Central Park and Highland Park. Bishop is also a partner in Renaissance Homes and Renaissance Steel which are working to provide affordable housing in Ybor City and East Tampa.
Perry Reader holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Florida. He spent several years as president of Celebration Company - Disney's planned community. He also has worked for the Viera Company and a Weyerhaeuser real estate subsidiary. Last year, Reader assumed the post of President for Crosland Florida – developers.
Listen to Bobbie O'brien's news feature, "Playgrounds to Parking Lots" that deals with the challenges of planning new communities in a time of high growth and hot real estate markets. (Broadcast on WUSF 89.7, Thursday, December 8th, at 7:20 am.)
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