Newsletter 172

NEWS FROM THE SUNCOAST …..

MANAGING CHANGE: VAN WEZEL COMMITTEE

A special committee that has been working for two years to recommend alternative uses for the 55-year-old Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall to the Sarasota City Commission is nearing the end of its mission without a clear option to suggest. The Purple Ribbon Committee, named for the color of the hall, was expected to hold its final meeting at 5:30 p.m. June 30 after months of input from dozens of local residents, representatives of various entertainment and museum venues and programs, historians, preservationists, climate specialists and reviewing an engineering report about the long-term viability of the existing building. Committee members have agreed in general that the Van Wezel needs to maintain its current operations at least until a new performing arts venue opens and that steps should be taken immediately to protect the venue from future storms. The committee was appointed in 2023 as discussions were developing between the City Commission and the Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation on terms of an agreement to build a new, 2,700-seat performing arts hall that would essentially replace the Van Wezel as the main venue for touring Broadway shows, musical acts, comedians and other performances. Commissioners wondered what should happen to the Van Wezel if and when the new performing arts center is built, and they appointed a committee to explore how the building might be used other than as a theater. An early version of the agreement between the Foundation and the city would have prevented the Van Wezel from competing for performances with the new venue, but that language was later dropped and the Foundation has offered to manage the existing hall if needed. Both the Van Wezel and the planned Sarasota Performing Arts Center are located within the development area of the Bay Park Conservancy, which plans to eventually turn the Van Wezel parking lot into a park. Early discussions about the park led to conversations about the desire and possible need for a new performing arts venue. Mary Bensel, the executive director of the Van Wezel, has said the building is too small to accommodate many contemporary Broadway touring productions, though it has recently hosted the Tony Award-winning musicals “Hamilton” and “Moulin Rouge.” Despite many meetings and rewrites, the commission has yet to vote on the terms of the implementation agreement with the Foundation for a new center. Foundation leaders are expected to meet again with commissioners in August, after the Purple Ribbon Committee presents its final recommendations to the commission. The city has agreed to the idea of a new performing arts hall and to a 50-50 split of the potentially $400 million cost with the Foundation, which it asked to oversee planning for the project. Opponents of the new venue believe it will cost the city much more than $200 million, and question the need for it. Purple Ribbon Committee members also have questioned the potential future use of the Van Wezel for other purposes after the building suffered nearly $10 million in damage during hurricanes Helene and Milton last fall. The hall had to cancel three months of performances while repairs and clean-up were done due to flooding and other problems. Though the building sits just feet from Sarasota Bay, there was little discussion about the impact of sea level rise and storms on the Van Wezel when the committee was appointed. The Van Wezel, which opened in 1970, is considered iconic because of its distinct shell-shaped roof and purple color. It was designed by William Wesley Peters, the son-in-law of Frank Lloyd Wright, who worked for Taliesin Associated Architects. For more information on this story, courtesy of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, please click here: Managing Change: Van Wezel

VAN WEZEL CAN BE PART OF SARASOTA’S FUTURE

This is an Op-Ed written by Tony Souza, who is an active member of the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation. As our community stands at the edge of bold transformation along Sarasota’s treasured Bayfront, I urge us not to overlook the enduring value of one of its most iconic and soulful landmarks: the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall. Designed by the legendary Taliesin Associated Architects and its chief architect, William Wesley Peters –and inspired by the artistic legacy of architect Frank Lloyd Wright – the Van Wezel is more than concrete and curves. It is the living soul of Sarasota’s cultural waterfront. To demolish it would be to erase a story we can never retell. Preservation is not stagnation – and that’s why I recommend a bold, balanced approach. I recommend that we preserve the iconic exterior of the Van Wezel and place it on the National Register of Historic Places, which is an honor it deserves. If this is done, it would allow for 20% of the cost of the Van Wezel’s rehabilitation to be returned to its developer (either its arm as a nonprofit corporation or the city of Sarasota). We should also repurpose the Van Wezel’s interior into something vibrant and relevant – perhaps by reimagining it with updated, flexible performance and community spaces. It wouldn’t be competition for the proposed Sarasota Performing Arts Center – it would complement that new venue and serve as a counterpart. The proposed arts center has been moved off the water, and plans now call for it to be closer to the middle of Bay Park. The arts center could be attached to the Van Wezel – and we could create a smaller, 750-seat venue that would be intimate, flexible and perfect for performances that don’t belong in the center’s 2,500-seat hall. With world renowned architect Renzo Piano leading the new hall’s design, we have a rare chance to weave these two landmarks into a mini-New York Lincoln Center. It would be a synergy of the old and new; the iconic and the innovative. We know the Van Wezel sits just 15 feet from the water’s edge. Yes, that is an engineering challenge – but it is also an extraordinary design opportunity. Through bermed landscapes, flood-resilient earthworks, bioswales, refracting pools and hidden retaining walls, we could elevate both the both Van Wezel’s safety and setting. We could create a cultural jewel nestled within an ecological landscape – a model of site-scale water management that becomes a global case study in preservation and resilience. Cities around the world are doing this; they are working with water – not against it – to create beauty and resilience side by side. We don’t have to choose between history and progress. We can and must embrace both. As a longtime resident and a steward of Sarasota’s architectural heritage, I have worked tirelessly to protect the integrity and dignity of our city’s most beloved spaces. During my decades of service – from my leadership in downtown preservation to this renewed call for vision – I have realized that true civic legacy is not found in buildings alone. It is found in what we choose to protect, adapt and pass forward. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to show what is possible when history, innovation and landscape come together. The Van Wezel doesn’t belong to the past – it belongs to the future that we want to build. Let’s not erase what makes Sarasota unique. Please click here for more: The Van Wezel Can Be Part Of Sarasota’s Future

AQUARIUM CLOSED AS MOTE PREPARES MOVE

The Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium on City Island closed to general public admission on July 6, as workers get ready for the big move for the major research center and tourist attraction to the new MOTE Science Education Aquarium (SEA) at Nathan Benderson Park. On July 7, all operations at Mote Aquarium on City Island shifted to preparing for the opening of the new $130 million Mote SEA at its new location just west of Interstate 75, near the University Town Center mall. Mote SEA does not yet have an opening date, which depends on two controlling factors: stabilizing water chemistry for the aquarium and assuring proper animal quarantine, transfer and acclimation. “This major transition period is an extremely exciting milestone along the pathway to a grand opening for Mote SEA, where Mote will continue to open a window into the globally significant marine science research conducted at Mote Marine Laboratory,” said Kevin Cooper, Vice President for communications and strategic initiatives. Plans for Mote SEA were first announced in February 2018 by Mote President & CEO Dr. Michael P. Crosby. Sarasota County commissioners unanimously supported the plan Mote SEA in October 2018. Mote is one of the oldest marine research laboratories in Florida, opening as the Cape Haze Marine Laboratory in Placida, Florida, in 1955. Cape Haze Marine Laboratory moved to its new home on the southern tip of Siesta Key in 1960, and in 1976, the city of Sarasota and Arvida Corporation agreed to provide 6.7 acres on City Island to Mote on a 50-year lease. In 2023, Mote leaders told the Sarasota County Commission that the opening of Mote SEA would double its annual visitation to approximately 700,000 people a year, with a capacity for as many as 1 million visitors annually. No Mote Aquarium staff member will be furloughed due to this transition, Cooper shared in a press release. Current Mote Members will receive an email directly from Mote’s Membership team with additional details. There’s more to read here: Mote Aquarium Closed To Prepare For Move

NEW BENDERSON PARK PLANS

The Sarasota County Commission showed enthusiasm for the latest update regarding the expansive new athletic facility and boathouse at Nathan Benderson Park that would cost taxpayers $20 million. The commission first agreed in 2022 to partially fund the project, which officials think will be a key driver of sports tourism and a prestige marker for the area. The park itself is county-owned and operated by the nonprofit Nathan Benderson Park Conservancy. However, Benderson Development was instrumental in its construction, and the two share a namesake. Nicole Rissler, the county director of parks, recreation and natural resources, told the Herald-Tribune that while the mega-development company is a strong supporter of the park, it doesn’t have any leadership overlap with the conservancy. The project would have enormous benefits for Benderson Development, the owners of the nearby University Town Center. A huge boost in sports tourism would make the restaurant and retail space at UTC much more valuable. Proponents have also long touted the complex as an economic development and tax revenue driver for Sarasota County and the region. The state has poured millions of dollars into the site as well. Construction costs are estimated to be $60 million to $70 million, pending a full funding plan. Rissler told the commission at a meeting on July 9 that Benderson Development has paid all of the facility’s preliminary costs to this point. “We don’t have a perfect answer yet,” Rissler said. “Once we get full construction drawings, hopefully by the end of the year, we’ll be able to come back to you all with that.” From there, Benderson Development has agreed to pay 20% of the construction costs. Sarasota County is expected to put up $20 million through its Tourist Development Tax. The rest would be sought from private donations. The facility would be on the park’s east side, just south of the Benderson Family Finish Tower, on the small “Regatta Island” off Cattlemen Road. The ground level would have enough space for eight basketball courts, or 16 volley courts, or 24 wrestling mats, 30 pickleball courts, or any combination of them. It would also feature the boathouse, a restaurant, concessions, and a meeting space. The second floor would have a high-performance training area, an athlete lounge, offices, and spaces to view the athletics below. “There is a need for this type of facility throughout not only Sarasota County, but the entire region,” Rissler wrote in a memo to the county administrator. Nathan Benderson Park already hosts a number of collegiate rowing competitions. Rissler noted that the Gulf region in general lacked a premier facility like the one being planned at the park, which could help drive visitors. Please click here for more: New Benderson Park Plans

HOUSING PRICES CONTINUE TO SLIDE

A dip in median sale prices and slower activity continued in the Sarasota-Bradenton real estate market in May, according to the latest industry report. The Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee’s May findings showed a persistent decline in the median sale price after data included some of the steepest drops in years. The report attributed the decline to a transitioning market that’s continuing to shift in favor of buyers. The median sale price on single-family homes dropped 7.3% in Sarasota County — from $530,000 to $465,000 — and 8.9% in Manatee County — $525,000 to $478,195 — compared with May 2024. Both counties also saw dips in the median sale price for townhomes and condos, with a 12.8% decline from $368,000 to $321,020 in Sarasota and a 13.4% decline from $361,495 to $313,000 in Manatee. Sales activity mostly decreased along with median sale prices. Single-family home sales in Sarasota County fell 7.3% from last May, with Manatee County showing a 1.9% decline. The two counties differed in closed sales of townhomes and condos, with Sarasota’s slipping 19.1% from last year but Manatee’s slightly rising at a 0.4% increase. The trend comes as consumer confidence has waned and with interest rates remaining high. The trend in Sarasota and Manatee counties’ median price trend is counter to national figures. According to the real estate company Redfin, nationwide home prices increased 0.7% compared to last year, with a median price of $440,913. However, overall the homes sold declined nationally as well, by 4.9% year over year. The supply of homes nationally is three months, Redfin reported. The downward trending market in Sarasota-Manatee is accompanied by still-high inventory, though the pace of inventory growth has lessened. Sarasota County reported a 6.6-month supply of single-family homes, a 32% year-over-year increase, and a 9.2-month supply of condos and townhomes, a 46% spike from last year. Manatee County saw similar trends, with a 26.8% year-over-year increase yielding a 5.2-month supply of single-family homes and townhome and condo supply growing 25.4% to 7.9 months. Signs across the board point to a slower, more buyer-friendly market, the Realtors’ reported concluded. As has been the trend since the explosive, pandemic-fueled growth ended, Realtor association President Debi Reynolds said the metrics mean the market is stabilizing. There’s more on this story here: Housing Prices Continue To Slide

PLANS FOR HOMES IN PARRISH REJECTED

Manatee County commissioners unanimously denied a plan by developer SimplyDwell Homes, a subsidiary of Neal Communities, to build to 440 homes in a flood-prone area of Parrish. The developer sought a change in zoning and plan approval for about 217 acres owned by Rebecca and Daniel Pope at 16525 CR 675 in Parrish to accommodate the single-family home project. The SimplyDwell brand offers homes that are more affordably priced, with online listings showing homes ranging between $311,00 and $419,000. A staff review cited elimination of 5.6 acres of wetlands that would require the developer to preserve wetlands elsewhere among potential negative impacts of the project. The staff also cited insufficient details to analyze site drainage and stormwater designs, the finding of potentially 15 gopher tortoise burrows on the property and that traffic from the proposed development that would overload Rutland Road as other issues. The county has approved development of many homes in and around the Parrish area over the past decade, but last week’s decision went against developer and former state legislator Pat Neal, one of the region’s biggest and most politically influential developers, at a time when tensions between the County Commission and the building industry are high. The county recently approved a sharp impact fee increase that was also vocally opposed by Neal. The county commissioners formally voted to deny June 19 to deny the project during a public land use meeting, although much of the discussion leading to the vote took place during a May 8 meeting. On that day, commissioners and local residents expressed concern about known flooding issues in the area and projections that traffic on Rutland Road would surpass capacity if the development were built. No vote was cast during the May meeting because attorney Ed Vogler, who represented the applicants for the project, requested a continuance on the proposal. Manatee County resident Ariel Lowe’s property abuts the Pope property, and she said last year’s storms caused so much flooding that it appeared her home had a new moat. Lowe was among several residents, and county commissioners, who raised concern about several aspects of the development proposal May 8. Much of the property is in an area at risk of flooding during heavy storms, and she expressed skepticism of the developer’s assurances that the project would not exacerbate the problems. “We’ve seen in other communities,” Lowe said. “They keep putting in all these nice fancy retention ponds saying that they work; however they just flood over and become part of a greater problem. The region experienced significant flooding during Hurricane Debby last year. She believes the community could contribute to future flooding if systems proposed for the project were to fail. “When I was listening to them talk saying that the water doesn’t go across the road − they will landlock their own people if they build where they are going to build,” she said, referring to people who could not traverse flooded roads in the area last year, noting “Everything and everyone in that area was landlocked.” There’s more on this story here: Plans For Homes In Parrish Rejected

SUNSEEKER RESORT SELLS FOR $200 MILLION

The Sunseeker Resort Charlotte Harbor will change hands for $200 million. On July 7, Blackstone and Allegiant Travel Co., both publicly-traded companies, announced they’d struck a deal via a press release. Investment funds affiliated with Blackstone Real Estate will acquire the resort. The resort, with 785 rooms, sits on 22 acres of waterfront on the banks of the Peace River in Charlotte County. Its extensive amenities include multiple food and beverage concepts and pools, a spa and a fitness center. Offerings include a rooftop adult pool and bar, a championship golf course and more than 60,000 square feet of indoor meeting space combined. In a statement, Scott Trebilco, senior managing director at Blackstone Real Estate, said: “The acquisition of this brand new, highly-amenitized resort demonstrates our strong conviction in hospitality and travel and the continued growth in group-oriented destinations. Allegiant has built a fantastic property and we look forward to bringing our extensive experience with large scale resorts to Sunseeker.” The resort opened in December 2023. The $650 million development was plagued by delays and cost overruns after work started in 2019. The five-year building project was halted twice, first in 2020 during the COVID pandemic and again following damage from Hurricane Ian in September 2022. Ian caused an estimated $35 million in damage to the then-under-construction resort. Last year, Allegiant saw nearly $6 million in damages from hurricanes Helene and Milton (before insurance recoveries). The storms also caused operational disruptions that led to room cancellations. The resort had $31 million in revenues and $27 million in operating expenses in the first quarter of this year, as compared to a year ago, with $24 million and $33 million, respectively. The occupancy rate rose to 70% in the first quarter after being in the 40% range for most of last year — and reaching 54% in late 2024. Allegiant reported a $322.8 million impairment charge related to the Sunseeker Resort in the fourth quarter of last year, contributing to a net loss of $216.2 million for that quarter. The company has been exploring strategic options for the resort for about a year, with hopes of selling at least a majority interest in it. There’s more on this story here, courtesy of News-Press: Sunseeker Resort Sells For $200 Million

COMMISSION REALLOCATES $10M FOR DRAINAGE

Sarasota County has reallocated $10 million of stormwater funds to focus on Phillippi Creek drainage improvements, amid a delay of a major flood mitigation project and a hurricane season well underway. County Commission Chairman Joe Neunder referred to the funding shift the board approved at its July 8 meeting as “triaging” stormwater funds – reallocating priorities as hurricane season nears its peak in August and September. A memo from Spencer Anderson, director of the county’s Public Works department, noted that the 2024 hurricane season exacerbated “existing vulnerabilities in Sarasota County’s stormwater infrastructure.” Commissioner Mark Smith asked if the dredging of Phillippi Creek could be impeded by the funding change; Anderson responded it would not. The director later clarified to the Herald-Tribune that the $10 million “is intended to be used for the Phillippi Creek dredging projects and other needed stormwater major repair, rehabilitation and replacement work.” Anderson told the commission several projects would be delayed as a result of the shift, including work on Dona Bay, the annual Stormwater Repair and Rehabilition Project, some minor flood mitigation projects along the Legacy Trail, and the Phillippi Creek Dam Removal. The move comes after federal officials did not approve a comprehensive dredging project for Phillippi Creek, which many residents and local officials worry is more susceptible to flooding after damage sustained in 2024. The reallocation also came the day after the county announced it had hired Ben Quartermaine to run its new Stormwater Department. The county administrator told commissioners that he had eyed the incoming director for about six months for another senior county staff position, so Quartermaine, 53, was already on his radar when he applied for the job on the day it opened, July 1. The next day he met with County Administrator Jonathan Lewis about the job. The day after that he accepted an offer from the county to run the new department. Please follow the jump for more on this story: Funds Reallocated For Drainage

CSEAGRASS RESTORATION EFFORTS SHOWS RESULTS

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium recently released the second round of funding from the Seagrass Restoration Technology Initiative – a $10 million program established in 2023. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, through its Aquatic Preservation Program, is partnering with Mote and the University of Florida to develop cost-efficient and environmentally sustainable technologies to restore coastal seagrass ecosystems. “It’s really a statewide issue but what really triggered some of the attention to it was the effects over in the Indian River Lagoon, though each bay, each watershed is very different across the state,” said Kevin Claridge, Mote’s vice president for sponsored research and coastal policy programs. As of 2015, the Indian River Lagoon had dropped to about 59,000 acres of seagrass coverage, compared to 80,000 acres in 2007 – a 26% decline. But since the 1940s, some areas of the lagoon have lost all of their seagrass meadows, while some studies estimate the lagoon has lost 95 percent of its seagrasses since 1981. “Like we did with the red tide initiative, Mote is receiving those funds but not keeping a lot of those,” he added, while referencing a similar program that produced three technologies announced earlier this year that combat red tide. “We’re bringing all the partners, the regulatory folks to make the best decisions, so a lot of that funding goes back out to different institutions.” Seagrasses provide nursery habitats for keystone species and stabilize shorelines and sediments, as well as improving water quality by filtering nutrients and capturing and storing carbon dioxide. Seagrasses are vanishing at a rate of 7% per year because of human activity, natural stressors and climate change. Please click here for more: Seagrass Restoration Shows Results

LIDO BEACH RENOVATION TO START THIS YEAR

Lido Beach, Sarasota’s crown jewel for an affluent beach city, will undergo a $12 million renovation expected to begin construction at the end of this year. Sarasota officials made clear in a statement that the centerpiece of city tourism will remain open throughout the project, but some sections will close temporarily. The money for the project will come from federal funds, the city said. “This multi-phase effort − spanning dredging, beach renourishment, and dune construction − addresses long-term erosion and strengthens the city’s resilience to sea-level rise, severe storm impacts, and future climate impacts,” a city statement said. The beach was last renourished in 2021; it was closed for weeks after sweeping damage by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. A 2024 report from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection found that about half of Florida’s 825 miles of coastline is “critically eroded.” “Nearly all of Lido Key has critically eroded beach that has threatened private development and recreational interests along 2.4 miles,” the report said. “Due to the cumulative effects of multiple storms and hurricanes in recent years, Lido Beach has experienced accelerated shoreline loss and due to system degradation,” according to a city report. Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert said the projects would fortify the beach against sea level rise and other climate change impacts. “The renourishment of Lido Beach will not only improve the area for residents and visitors but also increase the resiliency of our coastal community,” Alpert said. City officials also said they will coordinate with Mote Marine and the Sarasota Audubon Society to mitigate the impacts on wildlife. The first construction phase will be the dredging of New Pass, expected to begin in late 2025 with completion by spring of 2026. The DEP report found that the northern area of Lido Key fronting on New Pass is critically eroded. “This phase will produce approximately 200,000 to 300,000 cubic yards of sand, which will be placed along Lido Beach to increase shoreline width and stability,” according to a city planning document. The beach renourishment phase is expected to go along the same timeline, but a hard schedule depends on the contractor. Please click here for more: Lido Beach Renovation To Start This Year

PALMA SOLA BEACH TO BE SUBJECT OF STUDY

A Manatee County beach known for frequent fecal bacteria advisories has fallen between the cracks of various jurisdictions for years, but an upcoming study aims to solve the mystery of the cause of Palma Sola South’s sometimes icky waters. Manatee County boasts some of the most iconic sandy beaches in Florida. But often colored by tannins from mangroves, and located just a stone’s throw from traffic on the Manatee Avenue bridge on the way to those beaches, Palma Sola South is often overlooked. In 2024, the beach saw the second most “potentially unsafe” days for swimming out of tested beaches in Florida because of high bacteria levels that can sicken people who get in the water, according to a report published July 8 by the Environment Florida Research & Policy Center. Suncoast Waterkeeper Director Abbey Tyrna was not surprised. The organization has sampled bacteria levels at Palma Sola North for four years. She said some days the water is hot as soup, and polluted by horse poop from businesses that offer horseback tours in Palma Sola North waters. She says the data is already pretty definitive, but other stakeholders are not convinced horseback riding businesses that set up shop on the north side of the causeway have as much of an impact as claimed. “Our sampler bought waders mainly for Palma Sola; she was like, ‘I hate going in there,'” Tyrna told the Herald-Tribune. “I get it, because Palma Sola can also get super warm. I think last year it got to 95 degrees at one point. So you are walking in this super warm water that has horse poop everywhere, it’s just not great.” Despite data already collected by Suncoast Waterkeeper, other stakeholders are not fully convinced that horseback riding are fully to blame for fecal bacteria levels in Palma Sola. The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program now plans another study to better identify the sources of bacteria, and calls on local municipalities to do something to address the problem based on the findings. On its best days Palma Sola Bay is one of the healthiest ecosystems in Sarasota Bay. But frequently the Florida Department of Health-Manatee County issues health advisories advising against getting in the water when the Palma Sola South beach does not meet the recreational water quality criteria for Enterococcus bacteria. Last year some of those related to hurricanes and heavy rainfall events, but not all of them. Suncoast Waterkeeper tests Palma Sola north in an effort to fill the gaps in state testing. Solving the problem is more complicated. Experts don’t know what it is exactly that causes the spikes in bacteria. It could be stormwater runoff from Bradenton or the broader Manatee County area, horse excrement, septic tanks, or fecal matter from birds, dogs and other animals. Please click on the link for more: Palma Sola Beach To Be Studied

SARASOTA HISTORIAN LOOKS BACK AT KEY PLACES

Though he retired a decade ago as Sarasota County’s History Specialist, historian Jeff LaHurd has never really stopped working to share tales of Sarasota’s past to help us understand the present and potential future. The author of 17 books and countless newspaper and magazine articles, LaHurd has just published his latest book, “The People and Places That Made Sarasota a Paradise,” which he describes as more comprehensive and with fewer photos than many of his past books. He published the book himself through Moustache Publishing, and it is available on Amazon and Bookstore1 Sarasota. This one is primarily a compilation of columns he has written over the years for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune (some of which are being rerun each Sunday), Sarasota Magazine and elsewhere. “It seems to me there is so much to say about the people who made Sarasota what it is and the places we used to enjoy so much that aren’t here anymore,” he said. In his introduction, he writes, “Sarasota was a paradise, which I and previous generations were fortunate enough to call home. However, this sparkling jewel has lost some luster due to overdevelopment and failure to protect its colorful history. But what is paradise for today’s new citizens and visitors is paradise lost for long-time residents and vacationers who regret how much of their yesterday was unnecessarily squandered in the name of progress.” He’s not sure that current elected officeholders have the same kind of “common vision” of the city’s earliest leaders who wanted “to make Sarasota a go-to destination for newcomers, vacationers and snowbirds. With today’s City Commission, I don’t think there’s a common vision at all and I don’t think there’s enough respect,” LaHurd said in an interview. In the book, he quotes writer Mary Freeman, who with her professor husband, Ellis Freeman, ran a two-story motel on Lido Key. In a 1957 article for The Nation, she criticized the city for “allowing speculative dollars to determine the pace and pattern of our growth.” LaHurd said she warned that “if Sarasota is not careful it’s going to turn into an imitation Miami. Look at Miami when she said that and look at Sarasota today and she was right. It’s still a great place to live. It’s just overdone. We’re still building.” Please click here for more: Sarasota Historian Looks Back In New Book