Good Tuesday morning, neighbor. Summer is officially here in the 941. Here's what's shaping your community this week.
1. The Fight Over a Century-Old Downtown Building A preservation group is making a last-ditch effort to stop a Naples-based developer from tearing down a more than 100-year-old downtown Sarasota building to make way for luxury condos. The developer used the controversial Live Local Act to bypass downtown height restrictions while tapping city density bonuses to pack nearly 190 units onto just over 2 acres. Preservationists say the process left them with no real avenue to challenge it. This one could end up in court. → WGCU News WGCU
2. Historic Cottages Out, Apartments In — But These Businesses Aren't Splitting Up A group of longtime Sarasota small businesses operating out of bungalow-style cottages on Fruitville Road are being forced to relocate as developers move forward with plans to replace the cluster with a new apartment complex. Rather than scatter, the owners are banding together and rebuilding just a couple of miles away in a shared space. A rare feel-good story inside a tough development reality. → MySuncoast / WWSB MySuncoast
3. One Park Sarasota Tops Off — 75% Already Sold One Park Sarasota, an 18-story luxury condominium in The Quay at downtown's bayside, recently topped off construction with 75% of units already sold. The building will feature fully finished three-bedroom residences with Italian cabinetry, marble and wood flooring, and bay views. The skyline keeps changing. → Building Design + Construction Building Design+Construction
4. $43M Construction Loan Secured for New Bayside North Apartments Bayside North, a seven-story luxury apartment building at 1250 10th St. near downtown, has closed on a $43 million construction loan, clearing the way for construction to begin. The 96-unit building will include a top-floor clubhouse with Sarasota Bay views, a ground-floor restaurant, and a pickleball court. → Business Observer Business Observer
5. Sarasota Square Is Coming Back to Life The developer redeveloping the former Sarasota Square mall at South Tamiami Trail and South Beneva Road has pre-leased 88% of its first wave of commercial space, with fashion brands, restaurants, and boutique fitness operators among the tenants. The mixed-use town center is expected to open the first phase by end of 2028. → Business Observer Business Observer
6. What Should Main Street Look Like in 20 Years? The City of Sarasota held a public meeting last week presenting three conceptual design options for the Main Street Complete Streets project — a long-range effort to reshape the 1.2-mile corridor from US 41 to School Avenue into a more walkable, shaded, and flexible downtown street. One proposal would convert angle parking to parallel parking — merchants aren't thrilled. Construction is still years away but the design decisions being made now will define downtown for decades. → Your Observer Your Observer
7. New Hotel Coming to SRQ Airport The Sarasota Planning Board has approved a new Kompose Hotel that will bring the total number of rooms on SRQ airport property to 300. As the airport continues to grow, so does the infrastructure around it. → Your Observer Your Observer
8. US 41 Repaving North of Myrtle Street The City of Sarasota has entered into a local agency program agreement with FDOT to repave 1.24 miles of US 41 north of Myrtle Street. No timeline announced yet, but plan your commute accordingly — and enjoy it while it's smooth. → Your Observer Your Observer
