Newsletter 101

NEWS FROM THE SUNCOAST

RED TIDE RETURNS BUT IS ON THE MOVE

A patchy bloom of Florida red tide offshore from Southwest Florida – which has caused sporadic fish kills from Siesta Beach to Englewood – is on the move again. Beachgoers near Venice have reported some respiratory irritation, but it has not been as irritating in coastal communities north of Manasota Key. The Beach Conditions Reporting Systems, a daily water and air quality report conducted by trained volunteers, reports no respiratory problems and mostly clear water at seven beaches from Anna Maria Island to Venice Beach. However, amounts were high enough for the National Weather Service to issue a beach hazards statement for coastal Sarasota beach patrons of possible breathing problems because of the presence of red tide. To read more on this story, courtesy of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, please click here: Red Tide On The Move

SARASOTA COUNTY RECYCLING BIN CONFUSION

Residents of the unincorporated parts of Sarasota County are seeing new big, rolling recycling bins perched at their curbs. These larger containers, meant to hold all recyclable items mingled together, are showing up all over the county. The bins are accompanied by a "We’re On A Roll" information card. A separate card has also been delivered by mail to all Sarasota County residents. The one important fact that is missing on all of the communication ….. the new carts can’t be used until January 6, 2020. This is causing great confusion. Here’s a link to the County website …. which also has a list of FAQ’s relating to the new recycling carts: Sarasota County Recycles

SELBY, CITY TALK FUTURE

Conversations over Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ future in Sarasota will begin soon, as city staff remains positive that a compromise for the cultural institution’s ambitious redevelopment plans can be found. Selby Gardens’ leadership agreed to an initial discussion and debriefing meeting with city staff several weeks ago. The meeting has not been scheduled. The meeting comes after the City Commission sent Selby back to the drawing board after it denied a comprehensive plan amendment and a $92 million construction project that included a controversial parking garage and a roof-top restaurant. Please follow the jump for more on this story: Selby Gardens Future Plans

HOME SALES KEEP GROWING

Homes sales showed no signs of slowing down last month in the Sarasota-Manatee County region. Buyers closed on 1,249 existing family homes in October, a gain of 14.1%, or 154 more than one year earlier, according to data released by the Florida Realtors trade group. That makes the third-highest annual increase for local home re-sales in 2019. Condo sales, which have trailed for most of the year, also improved. A total of 519 units closed in October, or 9.7% ahead of 2018. For the year, total home sales are outpacing 2018 by 6.4%. The condo market remains behind year-ago levels by 5.6%. Home prices rose 6%, while condo prices declined by 1%. There’s more on this story here: Home Sales Growing

NEW CONSTRUCTION ALSO GROWING

Home starts in Southwest Florida jumped to their best showing in nearly 13 years during the third quarter, as incoming retirees drove demand for new housing. Builders broke ground on 1,888 local single-family homes during the July-September period, an annual starts pace of 6,352 homes that marked the highest total since late 2006, according to a new report by data supplier Metrostudy. Lakewood Ranch topped the list for new home starts, followed by West Villages, Babcock Ranch, Palmer Ranch and Rotonda. Please click here for more: New Construction Growing

FLORIDA TOURISM UP BY 1.2%

Tourism in Florida grew by 1.2% in the third quarter, according to data released recently by Visit Florida. About 31.6 million people visited the Sunshine State from July through September, according to the data. The number of hotel room nights sold in the state fell by 0.7% in the third quarter, and the average daily room rate went up by 0.6%. So far, about 101.1 million people have visited Florida in 2019, up 3.7% over 2018 so far. Preliminary data show that about 28.6 million of third-quarter travelers came from the U.S., 2.6 million were from overseas and 499,000 were from Canada. Domestic visitors grew by 1.6% and tourism from Canada grew by 1.7%, while visitors from overseas fell by 3.1%. Click here for more: Florida Tourism

A TRIUMPH FOR CELERY FIELDS

For years, Celery Fields lovers kept a wary eye on the land next door, worried that 30 acres of nondescript parcels known as the "Quads" would be developed. Now, bird watchers, nature lovers and exercise enthusiasts can rest easy. The Sarasota County Commission recently voted unanimously to keep the land public and to work with local conservation groups to establish a conservation easement on three of the four parcels to ensure their preservation. The Conservation Foundation and Sarasota Audubon Society agreed to work with county staff to restore the native habitat, create handicapped-accessible paths, and establish funding for future maintenance. There’s more here: Celery Fields Triumph

PIECES OF HISTORY

Workers and volunteers clearing invasive plants from a narrow spit of land recently unearthed a trove of artifacts at Historic Spanish Point. The three-acre parcel known as "The Point" was blanketed by a thick layer of sansevieria plants, also known as "Mother-In-Law tongue" or snake plant. Brazilian pepper trees and a dense carpet of sansevieria cloaked structures and "domestic scatter" left by the area’s first American settlers who lived on the property along Little Sarasota Bay. Museum Director Darrell Ayers said they had to weed by hand when it became clear the site contained more artifacts than what earlier land surveys showed. Click on the link for more: Historic Spanish Point Treasures

KEEPING FLORIDA GREEN

A plan to preserve two large ranches in east Sarasota County and create an expansive conservation area stretching across 1,978 acres received unanimous support from the Sarasota County Commission recently. Commissioners voted to move forward with purchasing 776 acres of the Donald Gant ranch and will do the same with the 1,272-acre Panning Family Ranch. This would create a critical link between large conservation areas like Myakka State Park and the Carlton Preserve to the west and R.V. Griffin Reserve to the east. The undeveloped land is also bordered by Longino Ranch to the south and Walton Ranch to the west. Conservation experts say all four ranches are important for protecting water quality, supporting wildlife like the Florida Panther and the black bear, and preserving the region’s agricultural heritage. Please click here for more on this story: Ranches Preserved

COUNTY REAPING BENEFITS OF PARK

Nathan Benderson Park brought $34.8 million in economic impact to the Sarasota-Bradenton area in the last fiscal year, the highest other than the 2017 World Rowing Championships. The biggest events of the past year were the USRowing Youth National Championships, which brought $7.1 million in economic impact, and the World Rowing Under 23 Championships, at $6.1 million. If you’d like to learn more, then click here: NBP Economic Impact