Nordstrom coming to Sarasota?

Nordstrom shoppers should be happy to hear about the retailers letter of intent to open a store at the University Town Center.

The high end retailers plans on opening at the 276 acre shopping center at University Parkway and I-75. The two-level Nordstrom will be 138,000 square feet and will open by late 2010.

When completed the University Town Center will be the largest retail space in Sarasota. The developers are also planning on office buildings, hotels, a movie theater, its own trolley system, parks, a grocer, outdoor dining until 3 a.m. and sculling on an adjacent lake.

In the first phase, a SuperTarget is now open and Benderson expects to sign Best Buy, ULTA cosmetics, Cost Plus World Market and Dick's Sporting Goods. Traffic is already very heavy in the Lakewood Ranch/I-75 area.

With such a large project planned the county will have to add and/or widen roads to alleviate congestion.