Quay project in downtown Sarasota

Here is a rendering of the new Quay development.

The model of the proposed $1 billion redevelopment depicts four buildings, three of which will rise 18 stories, along with New High Street, which will dissect the 14-acre, waterfront property. Along with 700 residences, Bayside is slated to contain 175 hotel rooms and 228,022 square feet of commercial and office space.

Quay Rendering.

Proposed development in downtown Sarasota

Do you remember the planned development Plaza Verdi behind Sarasota News and Books on Palm Avenue? It never got off the ground because of complications with The Golden Apple Dinner Theatre. The city of Sarasota recently sought development ideas for the downtown tract.

Read the article.

5 developers came in with plans.

All five proposals would either provide "attainable" housing units or contributions to Sarasota County's Community Housing Trust.

Roskamp & Patterson's Royal Palm Court - Build 224 units for people 55 and older.

Benderson Development's Palm Plaza - 836 parking spaces; 315 hotel rooms, condos and senior living units; and office space.

Florida Main Street LLC, - 302 residential units, 852 parking spaces and ground-floor retail.

Buck/Leiter partnership - 150 residences, a 140-room hotel, 700 parking spaces and retail space.

Rocco Santomenno - 1,630 parking spaces and 90 rental apartments that would be owned by the housing trust.

Do we need affordable housing in one of Sarasota's most expensive areas?

School Avenue condo plan on track

City OKs a land-use change over Alta Vista neighbors' objections

By MIKE SAEWITZ
mike.saewitz@heraldtribune.com

SARASOTA -- City commissioners late Thursday gave an important boost to a developer's plan to build 400 condominium units -- about 130 of which could be reserved for Sarasota's hospital workers, teachers and law enforcement officers.

The 3-2 approval of a major land-use change for the School Avenue property came after residents in the Alta Vista neighborhood begged commissioners to slow the project, pleading that the new condos and traffic would jam local roads and ruin the quaint enclave near Payne Park.

Supporters of the project included representatives of Sarasota Memorial Hospital and Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, who argued that the development could provide needed housing for its employees. Attorneys for the developer touted a freshly signed agreement with Habitat for Humanity, which could run the developer's unique affordable housing program.

The rest of the article

Sitting adjacent to Payne Park I think this is a great location for a condominium development. It is not the most convenient location to the heart of downtown. Hopefully the prices of the proposed condos will reflect that. I don't think this location can justify the same prices of condos in buildings like 1350 Main, Plaza at Five Points, or 100 Central.

What downtown Sarasota condos have sold so far in 2006?

If you are interested in seeing what condos have been sold in downtown Sarasota take a look at my new page: 2006 Downtown Sarasota Condo Sales. It shows sales information for most of the major condos in downtown Sarasota and Golden Gate Point. If you want more information on any of them or any other part of Sarasota give me a call or send me an email. 308-6766

Housing strategy suffers setback

City commissioners abandon an idea for affordable housing.

By MIKE SAEWITZ
mike.saewitz@heraldtribune.com

SARASOTA -- City leaders have been desperate for a strategy to create more affordable homes in and around the developing downtown.

But city commissioners on Thursday struck down a measure in which they placed their affordable housing hopes, after learning that a proposed density bonus plan would create only 265 affordable units downtown -- at the most.

Read the rest of the article here:

Parts of downtown have some of the most expensive real estate in the area. I wonder why they want to put affordable housing there. I agree we need a plan but is it fair to stick in one of the hottest parts of town?

Parties: Hyatt deal still going ahead

But observers believe slowdown will kill plan

By KATHLEEN MCLAUGHLIN

SARASOTA -- Despite hopeful speculation among hoteliers that WCI Communities will not close on its purchase of the Hyatt Sarasota, parties on both sides of the deal say it will go through.

If that is the case, the bayfront Sarasota project would be one of just a few that WCI pursues in Florida this year.

Here is the rest of the article.