Barbara Poma looking at a memorial. Photo Credit: Artist Jefre's Facebook page
The Pulse tragedy happened a year and a half ago. Barbara Poma, owner of Pulse, refused to sell the site to the City of Orlando to allow them to handle the creation of a memorial themselves. The site remains practically unchanged except for the addition of an art fence and a temporary banner sign. There was no lighting for mourners who visited at night so The Daily City told Patty Sheehan to get lighting. Other than the removal of memorials left at the site by the History Center, the site remains fenced off and without any improvements.
In September/October 2017, she provided an online survey for folks to tell her what they think the memorial for Pulse should look like and include. Now she is hosting five separate hour-long meetings for folks to tell her what they think the memorial for Pulse should look like. She'll also include her plans she's already solidified for a temporary memorial. This was first reported by Orlando Sentinel.
- 1:30-2:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 27, Orange County Library, Alafaya Branch, 12000 E. Colonial Dr., Orlando, FL 32826, Meeting Room 1
- 3:30 – 4:30, Saturday, Feb. 3, 3:30-4:30 PM Orange County Library, Hiawassee Branch, 7391 W. Colonial Dr., Orlando, FL 32818
- 11 a.m. to Noon, Saturday, Feb. 24, Osceola County Historical Society, 4155 W. Vine Street, Kissimmee, FL 34741
- 11 a.m. to Noon, Saturday, March 3, Orange County Library, Downtown Orlando, 101 E Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32801
- 11 a.m. to Noon, Saturday, March 24, Beardall Senior Center, 800 Delaney Ave, Orlando, FL 32801
According to the One Pulse Foundation's website, "an RFP will be created and details of the public design competition will be announced in the summer of 2018."
Poma has traveled the country looking at memorials of tragedies across the country.