Newsletter 88

NEWS FROM THE SUNCOAST

HOW WILL MICHAEL AFFECT RED TIDE?

While it’s too early to tell, this report is encouraging …. As Hurricane Michael tore through Florida’s Gulf Coast, large portions of the state may be getting a break from the algae, which has caused fish, birds, dolphins and more to wash up dead on Florida’s shores. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) tracks the amount of Karenia brevis cells, the microorganism that causes red tide, in the water. The group reported low or no traces of it in many parts of the Gulf Coast where red tide recently existed. The data used represents the most recent eight days of sampling. It was not immediately clear if Hurricane Michael was the cause of the sharp decline in red tide, but Tom Frankovich, a biologist at Florida International University, said that storms can contribute to breaking the algae up. To read more on this story, please click here: Michael vs Red Tide

NORTH PORT TO STOP YEAR-ROUND FERTILIZER USE

North Port city commissioners unanimously approved a resolution last week to encourage residents to curb use of fertilizer year-round – joining Venice, which adopted a similar voluntary ban earlier this year. And similar to a resolution that was passed in Venice, the city of North Port is only urging residents to take steps to curb fertilizer use, in hopes of reducing the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus in stormwater runoff, and, in turn, avoiding feeding the red ride algae in the Gulf of Mexico. There’s more on this story here, courtesy of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune: North Port Stops Year-Round Fertilizer

SAND SEEKERS

An emergency project to rebuild parts of critically eroded Lido Beach could begin within a matter of weeks, The Sarasota County Commission recently authorized City Manager Tom Barwin and staff to vet and execute an agreement with the lowest bidder for the job, which entails using 150,000 to 200,000 cubic yards of sand from New Pass to rebuild the shoreline that officials say has lost an estimated 15 feet in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma last September and Subtropical Alberto in May, prompting Barwin to declare of state of emergency, Note that this was done before Hurricane Michael added more erosion to the shoreline last week.The lowest bid, approximately $3.9 million, is from Coastal Dredging Company. Click here if you want to read more: Lido Beach Renourishment

LAWSUIT PLANNED OVER DREDGING

A citizens group fiercely opposed to a dredging project to renourish critically eroded Lido Beach has notified the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of its intent to sue the federal agency for allegedly breaking the law by failing to conduct a key study to examine the project’s potentially devastating effects to Siesta Key. Save Our Siesta Sands 2 recently formally provided the federal agency a required 60-days notice of its intent to sue after the Corps ignored a request for the group to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement to address economic and environmental concerns about the plan to dredge Big Pass and rebuild Lido Beach. The notice initiates a two-month period in which the Corps can remedy the issues reasoned by the group or face litigation if it refuses. Please follow the jump for more on this story: Dredging Law Suit

BAYFRONT PROJECT TO GET UNDERWAY

The long-awaited mega-million-dollar redevelopment project of the city’s largely vacant bayfront will move forward without the empty G.WIZ museum, despite objections recently from the vice-mayor. The Sarasota City Commission recently in a 4-1 vote approved an interim agreement with the Sarasota Bayfront Planning Organization – which is spearheading the estimated $250 million to $300 million project – to allow the organization to raise funds and move forward with the first phase of the project until a permanent park conservancy is formed. There’s more on this story here: Bayfront Plan To Move Forward

PLAYERS THEATRE’S BUYER EYES RESIDENTIAL

Several more residential towers could be coming to downtown in the next few years, one on the site of the Players Centre For Performing Arts and the other on two blocks along South Orange Avenue. A company linked to Capstone Group Holdings now owns the Players, Sarasota County Records show. Bayview Sarasota LLC is listed as the official buyer for the $9.5 million purchase of the theater, which sits on 1.77 acres at 838 N.Tamiami Trail. Click here for more: Players Theatre Lot Future Plans

MOTE WANTS MORE LAND

Sarasota County and Mote Marine Laboratory will work forward an agreement that would allow the nonprofit to lease and eventually assume ownership of almost 27 acres at Nathan Benderson Park as the site for its proposed new $130 million aquarium. The deal, discussed at a recent Sarasota County Commission meeting, would encompass a gross area of land roughly three times the original vision of about nine acres at the park for the new facility – though much of that would include two retention ponds by the proposed aquarium. If you’d like to learn more, click here: Mote Wants More Land

BUILDING BETTER LIVES

As heavy equipment carves out trenches, construction workers plant pipes in the ground, and household infrastructure connections rise out of the earth, the anticipation of 40 families stuck in an overcrowded or substandard living conditions also builds. This neighborhood’s different for Habitat For Humanity Sarasota, something beyond the usual one-house-at-a-time construction project. The philanthropic nonprofit – built on ecumenical Christian principles that bring people together to build homes and hope – will fulfill its mission on a larger scale than ever before with a planned community called Hammock Place. The $7 million project has been designed to look like a market-rate community. The 40 single-family homes will have 1,200 to 1,600 square feet of space with three or four bedrooms and a two-car garage. There’s more here: Habitat For Humanity Builds 40 Homes