Newsletter 177

NEWS FROM THE SUNCOAST

RESIDENTS ON SUNCOAST CAN COUNT ON NEIGHBORS

Despite dodging a repeat of last year’s destructive hurricanes, Sarasota area residents are facing a different kind of crisis ahead of this fall’s Season of Sharing campaign: a widespread food emergency. Local caseworkers report that soaring grocery prices have been pummeling households and compounding numerous pressures – from high rents and child care costs to soaring homeowners’ insurance bills. Even before families feel the full impact of federal budget cuts to food aid and Medicaid, as well as state cuts to child care programs, thousands of residents have been flocking to local food banks the past several months – a step that many have never had to take before. Living and working at the breaking point, many families already are one medical event or blown tire away from losing the roofs over their heads, case managers say. Heading into its 26th year, Season of Sharing – created by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County in partnership with the Sarasota Herald-Tribune – has raised about $50 million since 2000, helping more than 57,000 households. Working through a large network of local partner nonprofits, Season of Sharing donations go entirely to assist residents experiencing a crisis in Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto and Charlotte counties. Funds cover a housing, utility, child care or transportation expense. Last year, in the wake of three consecutive catastrophic storms, donors gave an astounding $7.2 million to help their neighbors. It was the highest amount raised in Season of Sharing’s history – surpassing by $3 million the prior milestone set three years before. While about half of those contributions came from several area philanthropists and foundations, the remaining poured in from ordinary residents – the average gift less than $100, according to the Community Foundation. Now, as the annual fundraising campaign kicks off this year – running to Jan. 31 – thousands of households continue to struggle with lingering effects of previous hurricanes, said Kirsten Russell, the foundation’s vice president of community impact. For more information on this story, courtesy of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, please click here: Residents Can Count On Neighbors

REAL ESTATE MARKET RESILIENT IN SARASOTA

The Sarasota-Manatee area’s September real estate market showed resiliency, according to the most recent industry report. The Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee’s September findings showed an increase in closed sales for both Sarasota and Manatee in the single-family homes segment year-over-year. Manatee saw an increase in sales of townhomes and condos, while Sarasota’s closed sales for the segment stayed the same year-over-year. The median sale price on single-family homes dropped 8.2% in Sarasota County year-over-year from $490,000 to $450,000. In Manatee County, the median price of homes didn’t change from September 2024, instead holding steady at $470,000. Both counties also saw dips in the median sale price for townhomes and condos, with a 17.1% decline from $380,000 to $315,000 in Sarasota and a 7.3% decline from $319,990 to $296,500 in Manatee compared to 2024. The trend in Sarasota and Manatee counties’ median price is counter to national figures. According to the real estate company Redfin, nationwide home prices increased 1.7% compared to last year, with a median price of $435,295. Sales activity was similar across the two counties, with single-family home sales in Sarasota County climbing 25.9% from last September, while Manatee saw a 24.4% rise. The two counties differed in closed sales of townhomes and condos, with Manatee’s sales up 31.7% while Sarasota stayed the same year-over-year. Inventory is still high on the Suncoast. Sarasota County reported a 4.8-month supply of single-family homes, a 6.7% year-over-year increase, and a 6.8-month supply of condos and townhomes, a 25.9% spike from last year. Manatee County saw similar trends, with a 7.7% year-over-year increase yielding a 4.2-month supply of single-family homes, with the townhome and condo supply increasing 5% year-over-year to 6.3 months. Please click here for more: Real Estate Market In Sarasota Resilient

SARASOTA COUNTY APPROVES $30M FOR FLOODING

The Sarasota County Commission approved $30 million in funding for flood prevention projects along Hudson Bayou, Whitaker Bayou, and the Celery Fields as part of a wide-ranging hurricane recovery effort. Of the $211 million Sarasota County received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to disburse as part of the Resilient SRQ program, $30 million was earmarked for “Dredging of Major Waterways” projects. The word “dredging” has been on the lips of many local officials and activists this year – it means the removal of sediment and debris from bodies of water. The National Ocean Service calls it a “routine necessity” for clearing waterways and increasing their depth. One is for Hudson Bayou, which will cost about $15 million – 91% of that funding will come from Resilient SRQ. The city of Sarasota will cover the rest of the bill. The project aims to remove 80,500 cubic yards of sediment, ease bank erosion, and use “native vegetation to prevent future sediment buildup,” according to a county presentation.

An application for the project obtained by the Herald-Tribune said that “Without intervention, neighborhoods surrounding Orange Avenue, Alta Vista Elementary, and Osprey Avenue will continue to face public safety hazards and infrastructure damage from flooding.” The Whitaker Bayou dredging project will cost about $20 million, half of which will come from Resilient SRQ. The city is trying to secure the rest of the funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers but will not receive confirmation until spring 2026 on whether that money is secured. That project aims to remove 118,000 cubic yards of sediment. The city of Sarasota and Longboat Key are also seeking $25 million to shore up flood protections at St. Armands, which the county commission will deliberate on in December. Please click here for more: Sarasota County Approves $30M For Flood Prevention

ICONIC WATERFRONT SITE HARTS LANDING RAZED

Sarasota’s iconic waterfront bait shop, Hart’s Landing — which also sold food and beer and hosted popular local live music acts — was demolished recently after sustaining irreparable damage during Hurricanes Helene and Milton last year.

City officials say plans are underway to restore the docks and rebuild a more resilient structure at the John Ringling Causeway (aka Ringling Bridge) site overlooking Sarasota Bay, though the process will be lengthy. The history of Hart’s Landing dates back nearly a century, when, according to Hart family legend, Deamus Hart started Hart’s Landing in 1934 with a “100-foot seine net, a bottle of Jack Daniel’s whiskey, and a bonfire on the beach at Golden Gate Point” at the foot of the old John Ringling Causeway, according to the bait shop’s website. The City’s intent is to restore the docks and rebuild the Hart’s Landing structure. “Hart’s Landing has been a fixture in our coastal community for a century,” said Mayor Debbie Trice in a city email. “Many of us have fond memories fishing and boating there and more recently, enjoying it as a live music venue. Environmental protections and permitting will involve coordination with agencies including the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and FEMA. There’s more on this story here: Hart’s Landing Site Razed

DOWNTOWN 18-STORY PLAN ADVANCES

The Zenith redevelopment project in the heart of downtown Sarasota, overlooking Selby Five Points Park, is moving forward after receiving partial sign-off from the Development Review Committee. The partial sign-off means the project won’t be facing the DRC again, but it does need to address the remaining comments it received before obtaining full sign-off, a City of Sarasota spokesperson said. It will not have to go in front of the city planning board or the Sarasota City Commission, according to the project’s applicant Sadek Omar. The project still needs to address some comments related to zoning and planning, utilities and wastewater, engineering, and traffic concurrency. Located at the intersection of Main Street, Pineapple Avenue and Central Avenue, the Zenith building is in a key part of downtown known as Five Points, but right now the building currently sits vacant. The redeveloped property is proposed to include one mixed-use building standing at 18 stories high. There are 96 proposed residential units, seven of which are proposed to be at less than market rate, and more than 40,000 feet of commercial and retail space. To complete these plans, the project’s team will have to demolish the property’s current buildings, including the 12-story structure that most recently housed Zenith Insurance. It was sold to a central Florida development company in early 2023 for $24 million, the Herald-Tribune previously reported. There’s more on this story here: Downtown 18-Story Plan Advances

MIRA MAR PLAN NIXED

The Mira Mar redevelopment project in downtown Sarasota scored the OK from the City Commission in July to rezone the 1.2-acre portion of the Mira Mar towers site to Downtown Bayfront. At a recent Development Review Committee meeting, the project’s team submitted initial site plans. They were denied. It was the Mira Mar’s first site plan submittal to the DRC. The project will need to resubmit its plans, and get DRC sign-off and administrative approval before it can seek out any building permits for construction, according to a city spokesperson. A first-time submittal is unlikely to get a partial or full sign-off. The project’s team still needs to address comments related to zoning; utilities, water and wastewater; engineering; tree protections; planning and neighborhoods; building; the fire department; and traffic. The site plans propose the rehabilitation of the two historic buildings on Mira Mar’s campus, which was Sarasota’s first modern apartment complex built in 1922. While maintaining the character, the development is also striving to keep up with Sarasota’s growth patterns, according to its site plans. It named The Adagio and the Zenith as two nearby projects in the works that are planning 18-story towers, as is their right through Downtown Bayfront zoning. The Mira Mar, located at 65 S. Palm Ave. and 136 Mira Mar Court, is planning two 18-story towers, with 70 new dwelling units in downtown Sarasota. “Key features include the restoration of the historic Mira Mar commercial spaces, a five-story podium, two 18-story residential towers, and state-of-the-art amenities,” the site plans said. There’s more on this story: Mira Mar Plan Nixed

IS TOURISM DRYING UP?

Hotel room prices are up in Sarasota, but tourism is down, according to Visit Sarasota County’s September Tourism Data & Economic Impact report. Visitor direct expenditures — the amount of money tourists spent on goods and services such as food, shopping and entertainment — were down $9.5 million from September 2024. The number of visitors decreased by more than 14,000.

Hotel room rates in Sarasota County have increased 4.4% from September 2024, but hotel occupancy dropped 10%. “We continue to see our room rate rise slightly, but visitation remains down,” said Visit Sarasota County president and CEO Erin Duggan. “Though the year-to-date number of visitors is down, the number of visitors from Central Europe and other international regions is up.” The total economic impact of this decline is almost a 16% difference in September’s tourism numbers year-over-year, dropping from $121 million to $102 million. Tourism in Sarasota has been trending down for at least a few months. In July, the county was down $8.6 million in direct expenditures year-over-year, according to the Visit Sarasota’s July Tourism Data & Economic Impact report. In August, direct expenditures were actually up from August 2024 by $7.4 million, leading to the total economic impact also being higher than the previous year, but the number of visitors was still down. Please follow the jump for more on this story: Is Tourism Drying Up?

BACK IN THE SADDLE

Horseback riding businesses at Palma Sola Bay are back in action after a one-month respite meant to give scientists from the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program a chance to study if horse manure is responsible for water quality concerns. Palma Sola Bay has become known for frequent fecal bacteria advisories issued by the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County, prompting scrutiny of horseback riding businesses that offer guided tours in bay waters to tourists and residents. The horseback riding businesses are rejoining a bustling Palma Sola Causeway that has also drawn recent scrutiny from Anna Maria Island public safety officials over the numerous businesses operating along its shorelines. The causeway is located on Manatee Avenue on the way to Anna Maria Island, but is located within the Bradenton city limits. Connie Smith has operated Florida Beach Horses on Palma Sola Bay since 2012, and every year she experiences increased public scrutiny over high levels of fecal “indicator” bacteria often found in bay waters.

This year is no different, and concerns often raised by the Suncoast Waterkeepers and other environmental advocates have culminated in a new study by the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program designed to better understand whether horses, other factors, or a mix of them are to blame. The study is meant to help the City of Bradenton address health and safety concerns, but early results seem to indicate that the impact from horse manure is likely minimal. “We have collected samples from what we call microbial source tracking five times, we have results back from four of those sampling efforts,” Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Director Dave Tomasko said. “We are looking at the levels of bacteria here and to the south, and we’re looking at whether or not we can find evidence of the horses as the source for the bacteria.” Please click here for more: Back In The Saddle

SARASOTA ORCHESTRA UNVEILS NEW DESIGNS

With a new conductor preparing to make his debut, Sarasota Orchestra is hitting a high note offstage as well — unveiling new designs this week for its long-awaited Music Center and celebrating two major gifts totaling $70 million. The 32-acre campus, set to be constructed on Fruitville Road, will feature Sarasota’s first purpose-built concert hall for acoustic music and an expanded education center dedicated to youth and community programs. The project marks a major step toward the Orchestra’s goal of creating a cultural destination that blends performance, education, and connection. “These schematic designs bring our Music Center vision into sharper focus,” said President and CEO Joseph McKenna. “They reflect years of collaboration among architects, acousticians, and our project team to create a space where Sarasota can experience the joy of live music.” The 1,800-seat concert hall will feature a “shoebox” design and curved balcony for world-class acoustics, while the education wing will include teaching studios, rehearsal spaces, and music libraries for the Sarasota Orchestra, Youth Orchestra, and Sarasota Music Festival. The surrounding space will remain part of the landscaping design Orchestra leaders revealed. More than a dozen acres of the property will remain wetlands and shaded trails, weaving the campus into Sarasota’s natural landscape. Led by William Rawn Associates in collaboration with HKS, the design milestone moves the project toward a 2027 groundbreaking. Please click here for more: Sarasota Orchestra Unveils New Designs

SELBY GARDENS PREPARES FOR PHASE TWO

After gaining approval from city committees and facing resident appeals, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, overlooking Sarasota Bay, is officially breaking ground on Phase Two of its masterplan on December 2. Phase Two introduces a learning pavilion and a 35,770-square foot conservatory to Selby’s downtown Sarasota campus, located at 1534 Mound Street, in the Baypoint Park neighborhood. It received final approval from the city’s Planning Board on August 7. The new conservatory will introduce five rooms with varying plant biomes. Visitors will be able to view plants in a warmer, dryer semiarid house; a warm, wet tropical rainforest house; an exhibition space to continue Selby’s ongoing exhibit programming; a cloud forest montane house; and a jewel house, which showcases miniature, or rare plants. The conservatory will allow Selby to display 95% of its collection, which the public sees less than 5% of today. It will also be hurricane resilient, something the Selby team called “both urgent and essential,” in a press release announcing the groundbreaking. The new greenhouses will have hurricane-resilient glass and a polycarbonate roof, which has a glazing that dims light coming in, but also promotes resiliency. It’s also being moved up to a higher elevation to mitigate flooding, according to botanical horticulture vice president Angel Lara, who spoke with the Herald-Tribune previously about the new buildings coming in Phase Two. Please click on the link for more: Selby Gardens Prepares For Phase Two

BELOVED RESTAURANT CLOSES & CHEF MOVES ON

Good news for fans of a beloved local restaurant. Although Adeline, the acclaimed fine-dining spot in Sarasota’s Southside Village, closed last month following a “tough summer,” as co-owner Edward Zaki told the Herald-Tribune — there’s a silver lining. Drew Adams, Adeline’s other co-owner and head chef — whose inventive New American cuisine earned praise from the Tampa Bay Times, The New York Times, and myself — has landed a high-profile new gig. Meanwhile, Zaki — who also owns downtown favorite 1592 Wood Fired Kitchen & Cocktails and the newer Lucky 8 in Southside Village — plans to Adeline’s former location at 1920 Hillview St. into a brand-new restaurant. A few days after Adeline closed last month, The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort announced that Chef Drew Adams has been named head chef at CW Prime, the upscale steakhouse inside the recently opened and nationally acclaimed beachfront luxury hotel. “CW Prime is thrilled to welcome Chef Drew Adams to our team,” said Winfred van Workum, general manager of The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, in a statement. “His creativity, technical skill, and dedication to excellence perfectly align with our vision of delivering an elevated dining experience. Guests can expect dishes that reflect both precision and the exceptional ingredients of Florida’s Gulf Coast.” At CW Prime, Adams will oversee the kitchen, which specializes in premium steaks and fresh seafood cooked on a Josper grill. The St. Regis noted that CW Prime will continue to emphasize “top-quality, locally sourced ingredients, offering dry-aged beef, tantalizing appetizers, and irresistible desserts.” Please click here for more: Beloved Restaurant Closes, Chef Moves On