Plans for the Sarasota Housing Authority's McCown North development at 1300 Boulevard of the Arts reached another milestone on October 7, when the proposed project was reviewed by the City's Development Review Committee (DRC).

The project includes 96 affordable senior apartments, approximately 5,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, and a proposed public parking component with 160 parking spaces intended to serve the growing Rosemary District.

The development is proceeding through the administrative review process under Florida's Live Local Act. Consideration of the proposed public parking component, including potential City participation, is expected to come before the City Commission in the near future.

The project also adjoins the City's planned Boulevard of the Arts Complete Street improvements, part of a larger transportation initiative supported by a $12 million federal grant and a planned $3 million City contribution.

Coordination between the apartment development and the street improvement project will be among the matters to be addressed as planning and review continue.

The 78-unit Ritz-Carlton Residences Sarasota Bay at 555 Quay Commons is nearing completion, with final inspections occurring this week and a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) imminent. First closings and move-ins are anticipated within the next two weeks.

The milestone is significant for downtown Sarasota as another major residential building moves from construction to occupancy, adding to the downtown population and continuing the transformation of the Quay. The adjacent 86-unit One Park is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2027.

What Should Main Street Look Like?

Join us for a public meeting for the Main Street Complete Streets project, an initiative to create a more vibrant, walkable, and welcoming downtown. Now entering the design phase, this is an opportunity for you to help shape how Main Street will look and feel for years to come.

Thursday May 21 | 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM | Selby Library Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium | 1331 1st St, Sarasota, FL 34236

At This Meeting:

• Explore design concepts 
• Share your input
• Help shape the future of Main Street

Public Invited to Help Shape the Future of Main Street | City of Sarasota

Two long-discussed luxury condominium projects — Waldorf Astoria Sarasota and the Mira Mar project — have now received full site plan approval. Together, they represent a potentially significant change for the core of downtown Sarasota.

The importance of these projects is not limited to the 156 new condominium units they would add. Both projects also include significant ground-floor retail space, which could help reshape the pedestrian experience, add new activity at street level, and strengthen the connection between Five Points Park, Main Street, Palm Avenue, and the surrounding downtown blocks.

With full site plan approval now in place, both projects may move toward building permit applications and other pre-construction steps. Construction will not begin immediately, but these approvals mark an important milestone for two projects that have been discussed for some time.

Waldorf Astoria Sarasota

The 86-unit Waldorf Astoria condominium project at Five Points Park has received full site plan approval. In practical terms, this means the developer has received detailed conceptual approval for the project’s core elements and may now proceed to the building permitting phase.

Based on information DSCA has received, demolition of the existing Zenith Building on the site could begin in early 2027, with construction of the completed project anticipated to take approximately two years.

Mira Mar Project

The Mira Mar project has also received full site plan approval, marking another important step for a project that has been under discussion for some time.

In the case of Mira Mar, the site plan approval covers both the restoration of the historic Palm Avenue retail shops and units, as well as the proposed two-tower, 70-unit condominium project. This makes the approval especially notable because it involves both historic preservation and new downtown residential development.

As with the Waldorf Astoria approval, full site plan approval does not mean construction begins immediately. It means the project has completed the City’s site plan review process and can move toward building permit applications and other pre-construction steps.

DSCA will continue to follow the project as more information becomes available regarding timing, permitting, and construction activity.

1260 North Palm Avenue

Formerly the Obsidian Project

This long-standing application came before the City Commission on April 4 and, for the second time, the site plan was denied. Members of the Bay Plaza condominium and other members of the public were in attendance.

With this second rejection, the applicant now appears to have three possible paths forward: withdraw the application, return to the mediation process, or pursue legal action against the City in circuit court. As we go to press, no further developments have been reported.

Adagio Project Receives Partial DRC Sign-Off

The proposed Adagio project, located at the intersection of Ringling Boulevard and Palm Avenue, came before the Development Review Committee on May 20. The project includes 134 condominium units and 75 attainable housing units.

At the meeting, the project received partial sign-off. This indicates that most of the materials necessary for further administrative review have now been received.

The concern for DSCA is what comes next. With partial sign-off, further consideration of the project may now continue administratively, without additional public review.

The project has generated concern due to its proximity to adjacent buildings and its overall mass and scale. DSCA has now made a third request asking the developer to hold a public community workshop. While the developer is not required to hold a community workshop, City staff have encouraged the developer to do so.

DSCA will continue to monitor the project and report as more information becomes available.

At its May 18 meeting, the City Commission held an almost two-hour discussion on the future of the Downtown Sarasota Master Plan. At the conclusion of that discussion, the Commission voted unanimously to pause — or, as it was described during the meeting, suspend — work on the plan for the time being.

The Downtown Master Plan effort began with the seating of a 13-member ad hoc committee in April 2025. The committee was created to help guide the process and assist with the selection of a consulting firm to prepare the updated plan.

After a series of procurement complications, only one firm remained under consideration. The Master Plan evaluation committee had recommended moving forward with negotiations. However, significant community concern developed over the transparency of the process and how the selection evolved. DSCA was among the organizations expressing concern, along with other community stakeholders, including the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, CCNA, and the Argus Foundation.

Rather than proceed immediately with the remaining firm, the City Commission chose to pause the project and take a closer look at the process. With incoming City Manager Karie Friling expected to be involved in reviewing next steps, further consideration will now likely wait until at least July. At this point, it is unclear whether the ad hoc committee will be dissolved or continue in some form.

DSCA views the pause as unfortunate, given the importance of the Downtown Master Plan to the future of downtown. At the same time, given what had transpired, there was broad concern that proceeding under the circumstances could compromise the perceived value and credibility of the final work product. For that reason, DSCA believes the Commission made the right call. DSCA will continue to follow this closely.

The Saravela condominium development in downtown Sarasota is generating fresh attention with a new marketing push offering buyers a complimentary one-year membership to TPC Prestancia Golf Club. The partnership adds a lifestyle component—access to golf, fitness, dining, and social amenities—aimed at attracting second-home and out-of-market buyers.

At the same time, the project remains part of a broader community discussion over short-term rental models in downtown Sarasota. Questions persist about how Saravela’s proposed rental flexibility aligns with city regulations, with officials continuing to evaluate appropriate guidelines for similar developments.

Together, these developments highlight both the evolving luxury market strategy and the ongoing policy considerations shaping Sarasota’s downtown growth.

The proposed luxury condominium tower at 1260 N. Palm Avenue remains in limbo after the Sarasota City Commission denied the project in 2025, citing concerns over its height, design, and compatibility with neighboring buildings such as Bay Plaza. The developer has since initiated a state mediation process under Florida law (FLUEDRA) in an effort to reach a settlement that could allow a revised version of the project to move forward.

While discussions are ongoing, no agreement has been finalized, and the City Commission is not obligated to approve any mediated outcome. The project’s future will hinge on whether a compromise can be reached that addresses both neighborhood concerns and the developer’s plans.

Work on developing an updated Downtown Master Plan, which began in March of last year, reached an important milestone at last week's ad hoc committee meeting. Following an initial evaluation on March 24, the selection committee convened for final interviews on April 1 and voted to recommend moving forward with MKSK as the city's planning consultant.

MKSK presented a comprehensive approach to downtown planning built around community engagement, data analysis, and stakeholder collaboration. The firm drew on experience in comparable projects in cities including Toledo and Decatur, with an emphasis on resiliency, transportation, and economic development.

Contract negotiations with MKSK are anticipated to begin in mid-April, with the hope of finalizing engagement details soon thereafter. Planning General Manager Ryan Chapdelain indicated that staff are now targeting the May 18 City Commission meeting to bring both the proposal and contract before the commission for approval. A full master plan committee meeting with the consultant is anticipated in mid-June, marking the formal launch of the planning process.

Notably, of the three firms originally shortlisted for consideration, only MKSK advanced to the final interview stage. When a committee member asked why the other two firms had withdrawn, Procurement General Manager Renee Hayes indicated she was bound by solicitation requirements that prevented her from disclosing the reasons, saying she could not disclose the reasons for either withdrawal and could only confirm that they had occurred.

It appears the next public consideration of the MKSK proposal will come before the City Commission in mid-May. Residents can expect more opportunities for community input as the project moves forward. Stay tuned for updates.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 9, 2021

DSCA Condo Members to Discuss Building Inspections

The Downtown Sarasota Condominium Association (DSCA) and its members send our thoughts to those in Surfside, FL affected by the tragic building collapse.

Downtown Sarasota condos spend over $60 million per year in operating expenses that includes regular building maintenance and reserve fees for major maintenance projects including structural inspections for repairs.

The Downtown Sarasota Condominium Association also includes associate members (commercial companies) who provide much of the necessary information and services to help our condo boards and property managers stay informed in best practices for condo maintenance. These associate members participate actively in regular DSCA meetings and host educational workshops on a host of topics, including building maintenance, insurance, the functions of association boards, etc.

A survey of our members released today indicates 100% of the 32-condominiums/townhouses participating in our survey require a reserve study at least every 3-years, with over 20% requiring a reserve study annually. Reserve studies are sometimes accompanied by a report from a licensed, structural engineer as to the integrity of the building and recommendations for repairs. However, such Engineering or structural reports are not required by state or local municipalities, including the City of Sarasota.

To help facilitate the discussion of what requirements for inspections currently exist or should be considered, the DSCA board today confirmed its plan to host a roundtable forum on multi-unit residential building maintenance and inspections. Such a forum will be organized on a priority basis in combination with our Associate members. The DSCA communication team will be reaching out with updates on the plan for this important event to our news list in the very near future.

About DSCA

The Downtown Sarasota Condominium Association (DSCA) is a non-profit 501(c)(4) membership organization comprised of condominium/townhome associations and commercial associate businesses in greater downtown Sarasota.  DSCA was founded in 1998 as the Bayfront Condominium Association Inc., and represents over 40 condominium associations.  The mission of DSCA is to actively advocate for the collective interests of its members for a vibrant and safe downtown Sarasota.  The greater downtown Sarasota currently has over 6,000 residential units with over 12,000 residents, is projected to grow to near 15,000 residents in the coming 5-6 years.

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Download PDF: DSCA Condo Inspection PressRelease-20210707a

July 10th, 2021

SARASOTA, Fla., January 26, 2020 – Marie Selby Botanical Gardens today released details of a new compromise Master Site Plan, including a number of significant changes made to address concerns.

After more than 40 hours of public input at hearings last fall and, more recently, at follow-up meetings with the community, three recurring concerns were voiced: the height of the parking structure and operation of a planned public restaurant being incongruous with the City’s comprehensive plan, noise from the planned restaurant, and the potential for increased traffic. Selby Gardens’ compromise Master Plan cuts the parking structure’s overall height by 40% and no longer seeks a change to the City’s comprehensive plan; reduces the size of the planned restaurant from 185 to a maximum of 110 seats; and limits the restaurant’s hours of operation to mirror the Gardens’ hours to cut down on noise and traffic from non-Gardens patrons.

“The Master Plan continues to be a vital chance to transform and realize the full potential of our beloved gardens, while also preserving our important history,” said Jennifer Rominiecki, president and CEO of Selby Gardens. “I’m thrilled to say we think even after downsizing the restaurant size and hours of operation, we believe the

February 3rd, 2020