Newsletter 163

NEWS FROM THE SUNCOAST …..

VENICE LEARNS FROM BACK-TO-BACK STORMS

The combined impact on the city of Venice from Hurricanes Helene on Sept. 26 and Milton, which made landfall 13 days later was “the most significant impact” the city has experienced from back-to-back storms, according to a top city official. Assistant City Manager James Clinch gave that assessment recently to the Venice City Council. He and Venice Fire Chief Frank Giddens, who serves as emergency manager during disasters, briefed the council last week on the hurricanes’ impact in a presentation that included 68 slides detailing storms’ effects and the city’s response. The briefing was also provided to the city’s Citizen Advisory Board, which will review that response for Venice. “We are completely of the mindset that every storm brings new opportunities and new ways of doing things, so while it may sound like we have a handle on everything that happened – which we do – we are also very ready to work with our citizen’s board and for improvements for the next storm,” Clinch said. Hurricane Helene, which made landfall Sept. 26 as a Category 4 in the Big Bend area of Florida, could be considered a one-dimensional storm in how it affected Venice, Clinch said. While Helene brought record storm surge – far surpassing levels previously set by Hurricane Idalia in 2023 – rainfall and wind impact was minimal, with sustained winds remaining under 45 mph, the threshold for when first-responders will not respond to emergency calls. Hurricane Milton, which became the first named storm to make landfall in Sarasota County in more than two decades when it made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane near Siesta Key at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, was also the first hurricane to make landfall in the Sarasota-Bradenton area in more than a century. Helene went on to devastate portions of Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina, with more than 230 deaths linked to the storm. In Venice, Helene’s storm surge was about six feet with that surge starting at roughly 7 a.m., Sept. 26. In Venice, between one and two inches of rain were reported and wind gusts up to 65 mph. “What we’re fortunate enough for, a lot of our emergency management plan revolves around life safety, incident stabilization and property conservation,” Giddens said. “The key to remember throughout the entire thing is zero deaths, fatalities – no injuries for the city of Venice and our employees, and our families around this area. Giddens added that the city “got a glimpse of what six feet of storm surge can do on our coastline.” “We used to focus on wind but here the storm surge has really impacted us.” But because many residents did not comply with evacuation orders of homes in Level A, Venice first responders conducted more than 50 high-water evacuations. “A lot of that took place as the storm surge passed through,” noted Giddens, who added that first-responders had to negotiate past storm debris and deal with power outages … “and now we’re putting our crews in that environment. We’re happy to do it, we’ll do it every single time but when we can really get that word out there to evacuate, that is information we want our residents to pay attention to.” Coastal flooding had fully receded from the island of Venice by Friday afternoon after the storm. The city was in the midst of recovery from Helene when, on Oct. 5, Tropical Depression 14, which would evolve into Milton, formed, establishing a back-to-back threat that prompted city officials to switch from storm recovery back to storm preparation. “As a small local government, we really can’t do both,” Clinch said. Giddens noted that it should take at least a year for the city to complete the recovery phase. “We got punched in the face with Helene and then here comes Milton,” Giddens said. For more information on this story, courtesy of Sarasota Herald-Tribune, please click here: Venice Learns From Storms.

COMPLAINTS ABOUT STORM SCRAP OPERATION

On Riverview Street in Nokomis, a 50-foot-high pile of twisted hurricane debris looms over a residential neighborhood just east of Dona Bay along the Legacy Trail. What were once kitchen appliances, personal possessions, and road fixtures now comprise a towering mound of indistinguishable, twisted metal, the mangled remnants of the two hurricanes that swept through much of Florida, including Sarasota County this past storm season. A huge, blue crane diligently sifts through what is left at the new site for All Scrap Florida, a metal recycling company. Banging and rumbling from the work echo throughout the neighborhood. Across Riverview Street are rows of suburban houses and local residents are unhappy with their new neighbor. All Scrap’s entry into the community in October was sudden and unwelcome. Residents say they had to find increasingly creative detours as trucks backed up residential roads to dump debris at the site. They have complained that the company’s response to their concerns has not exactly been neighborly. One video provided to the Herald-Tribune showed an All Scrap employee outside of the site, directing traffic, involved in a screaming match with an unidentified woman in her minivan. Some also worry the towering pile of metal could be unsafe. Although the Atlantic hurricane season has officially ended, Florida is always vulnerable to thunderstorms. Strong wind gusts blow debris particles from the All Scrap lot into the neighborhood streets. Local residents suspect that metal shards falling off trucks and littering the curbs have caused flat tires. Residents went out of their way to praise the two businesses that sandwich All Scrap to the north and south on Riverview Road − Kimal Lumber and DR Aluminum − saying they have never given them problems. But many local residents make it clear: They want All Scrap gone. They also agreed that Sarasota County is not helping, especially after the revelation that the site has continued to operate despite a cease-and-desist order from the county for code violations. All Scrap Florida has two other locations: a Fort Myers headquarters and a Naples site. Alexis Properties purchased the Nokomis yard in June, but neighbors say the new scrap heap didn’t appear until days after Hurricane Milton’s landfall in October. Sarasota County code compliance officers visited the property 10 times from Oct. 6 through Nov. 13. However, on Oct. 23, the county said All Scrap told officials they were no longer welcome inside. There’s more to read here: Complaints Pile Up About Scrap Operation.

AIRPORT BOUNCES BACK FROM MILTON DAMAGE

This is a recent column by Rick Piccolo, President & CEO Of SRQ International Airport. The impact of Hurricane Ian on the airport in October 2022, was the worst we have seen, when approximately 15,000 square feet of roof came off above the ticket wing. How could we imagine it could get worse? As the front end of the eye of Hurricane Milton rolled directly over the airport at approximately 8 p.m., followed by the back end of the eye about two hours later, its devastation to the airport made the Ian experience look minor in comparison. Prior to the storm’s arrival, a University of Florida team placed weather recording instruments on the airfield. The instruments recorded maximum gusts of 96 mph on the front end of the storm and 102 mph on the back end. The winds did not dip below 60 mph for over two and a half hours after the eye passed. The storm ripped apart huge sections of the terminal concourse roof, damaging or destroying approximately 100,000 square feet of roof. The roof has over 70 cast iron roof drains that spiral through the terminal down to the ramp to move water off the roof. The force was so great, 13 thick, cast-iron drainpipes were broken off below the roof line and pulled off the roof surface. The rainwater poured into the concourse, bringing down a plethora of ceiling tiles and drywall, soaking carpeting and staining the terrazzo floors. Fortunately, as part of our hurricane preparedness, all computer and security screening equipment were covered and did not incur any damage. Unfortunately, half the secure exit lane technology was damaged and is undergoing replacement. Not only was the storm impactful on the terminal, but it also had a significant effect on several hangars and some aircraft stored in the hangars. Many large hangars had doors, exterior metal skin, and roofs blown off. Some hangars were destroyed and were just a pile of metal. In addition, the airfield and the roadway system had major tree damage. As with Hurricane Ian, airport employees did a great deal of preparation to minimize the damages as much as possible. Along with computers, doors were secured and sandbagged; all the jet bridges were pulled up close to the terminal and had hurricane strapping that was secured to the ramp. The only people at the airport during the hurricane were Airport Authority employees. This includes our senior leadership, police, fire, information technology, operations, communications and facility maintenance personnel. They worked tirelessly to secure facilities and repair damage as quickly as possible. By 4 a.m., they were already starting terminal cleanup and clearing debris from the roadways. First thing that morning, additional personnel that could get to the airport were assisting as well. Airport Authority personnel were in the chiller tower in the early morning hours because so much roof debris had blown in that the air-conditioning system had shut down. This needed to be corrected quickly, and within a few hours they had the system cleaned out, re-watered, and running again. Not only did this allow personnel working inside the terminal to work in a more comfortable temperature, but it also helped to lessen the impact of the water in the terminal. A special shout-out to the airport’s purchasing director who had contractors on speed dial and secured the materials and services needed to undertake the extensive roof and terminal damage repairs. This included the need to completely dehumidify and dry the concourse terminal wing, steam clean all the carpeting, and remove not just the interior debris, but also painstakingly clear all the roof insulation debris that was strewn on the ramp. Because aircraft engines are sensitive to debris ingestion damage, meticulous cleaning of the ramp area was essential for safety. I would be remiss if I did not compliment the work of Target Solutions, a Texas firm that responded quickly to assist and did yeoman’s work at the airport. It took six days to get the terminal safe and operational. Given the extent of the damage, I believe it was a testament to the dedication of our employees and relief contractors, especially given that many had damage issues to manage at their homes as well. I also wish to recognize the assistance of state and federal agencies that have worked with us to mitigate the tremendous financial impacts of the storm. Secretary Perdue of the Florida Department of Transportation walked our roof to view the damage himself. With damages on the terminal alone approaching $4-5 million and hangar costs yet to be determined, the road to financial recovery is also difficult. The airport has no taxing power and funds our operation from our business revenue. The six-day closure resulted in the loss of 617 flights and nearly 100,000 seats, so those revenue opportunities are gone. The future impacts on tourism will continue to impact the revenues of the airport. Despite this challenge, I am confident that the airport and the community will rebound quickly. The airport has already seen announcements of new destinations starting in the fall and spring, and the airport’s permanent repairs will be completed by the Christmas holidays. Please click here for more: Airport Bounces Back From Milton Damage.

POPULAR SARASOTA RESTAURANT CLOSES FOR GOOD

A landmark restaurant and clothing store has left Sarasota, citing challenges with recovery from Hurricane Helene in late September and Hurricane Milton in early October, as well as the city’s delayed infrastructure repairs on St. Armands Circle. The announcement comes as a bit of a surprise, following Shore’s reopening of its popular second-floor restaurant on St. Armands Circle in mid-October, while its downstairs clothing store of the same name remained closed due to hurricane flooding. Six weeks later, however, Shore permanently closed both its dining and shopping destination located on St. Armands Circle at 465 John Ringling Blvd in the city of Sarasota. Shore St. Armands’ last day of business was Sunday, Dec. 1, marking the end of more than 15 years on the Circle. The Leonard family, owners and founders of the Shore brand, stated in an email that following “the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton” and “significant damage to their original location,” they have “made the difficult decision to lease the building at 465 John Ringling Blvd,” signaling a shift in Shore’s presence in Sarasota. “It’s been a challenging time for us, especially given the extended recovery process after the storm,” said Tom Leonard, co-founder of Shore, in a statement. “The lack of urgency from the city in addressing the infrastructure issues — particularly the malfunctioning pumps that led to standing water remaining in the store for days after the storm — forced us to reevaluate our future here.” “The infrastructure on St. Armands Circle has remained largely unchanged for years, and while we love this community, it’s clear that the city has a long way to go in terms of modernizing its streets, sidewalks, and drainage systems,” Leonard continued. “We experienced firsthand the frustration of waiting for repairs that should have been prioritized much sooner.” The city noted in an email to the Herald-Tribune that Sarasota faced historic flooding from June’s Invest 90L tropical system and major hurricanes Helene and Milton, with city and county efforts focused on stormwater management and recovery, especially on St. Armands Circle. “Sarasota experienced unprecedented rainfall in June during Invest 90L, then was devastated with four-five foot storm surge from back-to-back major hurricanes Helene and Milton,” reads the statement sent by Luke Mocherman, the city’s communications assistant. “These weather events were extraordinary. Infrastructure systems up and down the west coast of Florida were overwhelmed by the historic flooding.” “Sarasota County oversees and maintains the city’s stormwater system,” the statement continued. “City of Sarasota staff coordinated with the county before, during and after the storms to pump heavily flooded streets, including St. Armands Circle, as soon as safely possible. The city is continuing to provide support to St. Armands as the community recovers and businesses on the circle reopen.” The Leonard family noted they are grateful for the support they’ve received from Sarasota residents over the years. “Sarasota will always be home to us and hold a special place in our hearts,” Susan Leonard said in a statement. “While we’re making the difficult decision to leave our current location, we’re not saying goodbye to Sarasota forever. If the right opportunity presents itself in the future, we would absolutely consider bringing Shore back to this community that has supported us so well.” Shore’s other location is about 11 miles to the north on the Manatee County side of Longboat Key at 800 Broadway St. overlooking north Sarasota Bay. Shore also has a location at Disney Springs in Lake Buena Vista, with online retail available at shopshore.com. There’s more to read here: Popular Sarasota Restaurant Closes For Good.

BIG CHANGES AHEAD FOR ST ARMANDS RESTAURANT

One of Sarasota’s oldest restaurants, closed for the past two months due to hurricane flooding, has announced plans to reopen with a new name and a more casual concept, featuring grab-and-go food and alcohol package sales. St. Armands Circle icon Café L’Europe, an upscale restaurant offering indoor and sidewalk seating and long celebrated for its classic Continental cuisine including signature dishes like roast duck, is “being reimagined as The Café on St. Armands, a Mediterranean-inspired dining destination,” said Taylor Escobar, marketing coordinator for Oysters Rock Hospitality, which owns Café L’Europe, via email. The decision follows what the owners described as the café sustaining catastrophic damage from Hurricane Helene in late September. It also comes after Anna Maria Oyster Bar restaurateurs Amanda and John Horne purchased Café L’Europe from Julie and Ron Milton in early 2022 and subsequently formed Oysters Rock Hospitality, which now oversees both concepts. The Café’s new menu has not yet been unveiled but is described as featuring “vibrant small plates and seafood-forward dishes” with influences from France, Spain, Greece, Italy, North Africa, and the Middle East. Walk into The Café, and you enter the Garden Room, which includes the original bar they’re restoring and calling Café Soleil. The coffee bar will feature “specialty drinks, morning cocktails, and grab-and-go options.” Through the archway on the right, you’ll find the redesigned Wet Bar, described as “a Gatsby-inspired lounge with creative cocktails and full menu access.” Continue further, and you’ll reach the Gas Light Room. At the very back of the one-story restaurant is the Gallery, the largest space. In addition, The Café will offer to-go liquor sales, picnic baskets, and third-party delivery services. Guests arriving for the grand reopening planned for January can also expect an updated Mediterranean façade “with communal dining spaces and lush greenery,” according to the email. Anna Maria Oyster Bar restaurateurs Amanda and John Horne took over operations at Café L’Europe on Feb. 1, 2022. John Horne said in a statement that it was “an immense honor to be entrusted with the rich culinary legacy of Café L’Europe.” Moving forward, guests planning to visit The Café on St. Armands when it debuts early next year are invited to “be part of the transformation and experience a dining destination that blends modern trends with the rich culinary heritage of the Mediterranean coast.” There’s more on this story here: Big Changes Ahead For St Armands Restaurant.

NONPROFIT TESTS WATER QUALITY AFTER STORMS

In the rush of clearing debris and restoring power in the immediate aftermath of a hurricane, a local nonprofit is making sure the Sarasota area’s water quality isn’t left behind. Tiny but mighty — three full-time staffers strong— Suncoast Waterkeeper has cemented itself as a go-to community resource on local water quality through consistent testing and reporting. After Hurricane Helene hit and Hurricane Milton followed, the organization stayed the course and kept tabs on the area’s water health amid weather events that posed serious threats to it. Suncoast Waterkeeper scientists knew it was vital to test the waters as soon as possible after Helene and Milton made landfall, continuing the weekly reports within days of both. Executive director Abbey Tyrna said the urgency is a matter of safety — as the community gets antsy to enjoy the water after the storms, it’s up to Suncoast Waterkeeper to tell them if they can get back in. “When people have been cooped up and had to hunker down, their immediate instinct is, ‘Let’s get outside,’” Tryrna said. “It’s important that we can articulate and communicate the risks associated with our favorite recreational activities, especially after these large storm events.” The team tests the water at 11 sites around the Sarasota Bay area: a coverage site that stretches as far north as Terra Ceia Bay in Manatee County and as far south as the Sarasota Sailing Squadron at Ken Thompson Park on Lido Key. Weekly testing — which measures dissolved oxygen, clarity, color, total nitrogen and fecal indicator bacteria levels — allows the team to determine a timeline for when the water is safe. That can vary depending on the severity of the storm. After Hurricane Debby inundated Sarasota’s inland areas with record rainfall, for example, the water took five weeks to rebound, but after Milton, it took two. “Is the water quality poor, and how long does it stay poor for? And can we start communicating a certain timeframe in which you should really consider not coming in contact?” Tyrna said of what she looks for in testing the water. “What we found is that it really depends on the type of storm.” It’s not glamorous work, but it’s vital to one of the Sarasota area’s marquee resources. The aftermath of a hurricane is an especially critical time to monitor because of how severely storms can disrupt water quality, with pollutants from rainwater or sewage runoff and drudged-up sediments potentially throwing the water off its ideal chemical balance. Suncoast Waterkeeper’s outreach efforts aren’t limited to the weekly reports. After Milton, the group rallied to facilitate cleanups at the Sarasota Audubon Nature Center, Perico Preserve, the Cortez area and other places hit hardest by the storms. Time not spent recovering from a hurricane is spent preparing for one, with Suncoast Waterkeeper lobbying governments to protect local waterways before the storm hits. The organization carries the torch for local waterways to fill the gap left vacant by local and state governments, which often don’t have the resources necessary to keep up with the demands of regular water quality maintenance and monitoring. “It just hasn’t been a state priority in a long time,” Tyrna said. “It just doesn’t seem to be getting the attention and funding it deserves.” Please follow the jump for more on this story: Nonprofit Tests Water Quality After Storms.

CUSTOMERS OF FPL WILL SOON SEE RATE HIKE

Customers of Florida’s largest power company will see a bump of about $12 in monthly bills next year to cover restoration costs from the 2024 hurricane season. The state Public Service Commission recently unanimously approved a $1.2 billion interim recovery package for Juno Beach-based Florida Power & Light, aimed at covering power restoration costs for Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. The money also will help replenish a $150 million storm reserve fund. Jordan Luebkemann, an attorney who represents Florida Rising and the League of United Latin American Citizens, told the commission during a recent meeting that the power company’s recovery package will cause residential customers’ costs to increase “while large commercial and industrial customers got a break.” “Utilities which have participated in the carbon emissions that drive these stronger storms should have more skin in the game in terms of the cost recovery following those storms,” Luebkemann added. But Joel Baker, an attorney representing FPL, told the panel that the storm-cost recovery process has been used on “multiple prior occasions.” The Miami Beach City Commission was among those that questioned the recovery plan. The commission last month approved a resolution, signed by Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner, that urged state utility regulators “to explore alternative approaches for addressing storm restoration costs and reserve replenishment that do not place an additional burden on FPL’s customers.” FPL wants to recover the costs from customers over a 12-month period starting in January. The commission in the past has regularly approved such costs, which are essentially a temporary add-on to customer bills. Utilities typically use as a benchmark residential customers who consume 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a month — though actual electricity use varies widely. FPL also has differing rates based on whether customers are in the utility’s traditional service area or a Northwest Florida area that was part of a purchase of the former Gulf Power. Under FPL’s proposal, customers in the traditional service area who use 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity would see their monthly bills go from the current $121.19 a month to $133.99 in January. Customers in the Northwest Florida area would see their bills go from the current $135.38 to $143.45, according to the utility. Much of the costs — about $811.1 million — stemmed from restoring power after Hurricane Milton, which made landfall Oct. 9 as a Category 3 storm in Sarasota County before crossing the state. FPL put its costs for Hurricane Debby, a Category 1 storm that hit the Big Bend region in early August, at $113.5 million. Hurricane Helene, a Category 3 storm that ran up the west coast before landfall Sept. 26 in Taylor County, came in at $157.8 million. The approved package is deemed “interim,” as the commission noted in a release that the charges are subject to a refund, with interest, pending further review once the total actual recovery costs are known. Please click here for more, courtesy of CBS News: FPL Customers To Soon See Rate Hike.

LOCAL EATERY MAKES TOP 100 IN AMERICA

One of Sarasota’s best waterfront restaurants has once again nabbed national attention. OpenTable, the popular online restaurant reservation service, recently revealed its Top 100 Restaurants in America for 2024. This year’s list features dining spots from 27 states, with Florida represented by four restaurants: Sails in Naples, Buccan in Palm Beach, Bern’s Steak House in Tampa, and Dry Dock Waterfront Grill on Longboat Key overlooking Sarasota Bay. “I couldn’t be prouder of every restaurant that made this list for their incredible efforts to deliver hospitality to their guests at every turn,” said Debby Soo, CEO of OpenTable, in a statement. “For diners, there’s something for everyone on this list — it’s an amazing hit list for locals and travelers too.” OpenTable notes that the list is compiled by analyzing “more than 14 million diner reviews, along with diner ratings, reservation demand, percentage of five-star reviews, among other factors.” Dry Dock offers diners two floors of indoor seating, a full-liquor bar, and covered outdoor tables, all overlooking the water. To complement the waterfront setting, Dry Dock serves expertly prepared Gulf of Mexico seafood, with a particular focus on grouper. The combination of the stunning view — often featuring pelicans and playful dolphins — and the delicious, locally sourced seafood has earned Dry Dock numerous national honors in recent years, including a spot on OpenTable’s list of the Top 100 Restaurants in the U.S. for Outdoor Dining in 2023. Dry Dock has a rich history dating back to 1989, with the Sarasota-based Gecko’s Hospitality Group operating the waterfront grill since 2015. The Gecko’s team also owns Dockside Waterfront Grill in Venice, acquired in 2016, and in 2021, they opened the similar Tripletail Seafood & Spirits, located in The Landings Plaza of Sarasota. The more casual and less famous sister of the group’s two waterfront grills, the Venice gem offers a laid-back, mostly open-air setting in the Fisherman’s Wharf Marina on the Intracoastal Waterway. While the menus at Dockside and Dry Dock are very similar — both featuring the citrus grouper entrée — only Dockside Waterfront Grill in Venice serves the house-made potato chips that originated at Gecko’s and elevate any meal they touch. Please click here for more: Sarasota Eatery Makes Top 100 Spot In America.

AREA’S HOUSING DILEMMA EMPHASIZED

When it comes to affordable housing, the Sarasota-Manatee County region is in the hole by between 10,000 and 20,000 rental units, according to a recent study by the Florida Housing Coalition. In addition to overcoming that deficit, Sarasota County alone will need to build another 14,000 affordable homes in the next decade just to keep pace with growth and demand, the study found. These conclusions come from researcher Kody Glazer and his team at the Florida Housing Coalition. The team was commissioned earlier this fall to take a deep dive into the area’s affordability crisis by four area foundations: the Community Foundation of Sarasota County; The Patterson Foundation; the Gulf Coast Community Foundation; and the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation. Glazer, chief legal and policy officer, presented preliminary findings at late November’s Affordable Housing Summit, which was organized by the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and attended by nearly 200 local business leaders, nonprofit members, and policy makers. Compiling data from numerous sources – including the U.S. Census, the Florida Department of Revenue, and the University of Florida Shimberg Center for Housing Studies – the researchers put hard numbers to a broadly recognized problem that is squeezing businesses and workers alike. Sarasota and Manatee County’s deficit of 10,000 to 20,000 rental units is focused on rents that would be affordable by residents making less than 80% of the area median income, which is $51,200 per year for individuals and $73,120 for a family of four. A few years in a row on U.S. News and World Report’s list ranking the best U.S. cities for retirees, Sarasota has returned to the top five. Sarasota − No. 1 in 2020 and ’21 − ranked as the fourth best place to retire this year. It placed behind top-ranked Naples, Virginia Beach at No. 2, and third-place New York City as seniors this year emphasized happiness as their top concern to the Washington, D.C.-headquartered media company famous for its consumer ranking information. Real estate prices in the area soared, fueled by shifts in migration patterns following the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite losing points on affordability, other factors, including happiness, health care, desirability, and retiree taxes, allowed Sarasota to return to the top five for the first time since 2021. Many other cities with temperate weather and entertainment options also scored well. “The 2025 Best Places to Retire rankings reflect top cities across the country that best meet retiree needs and desires,” said Dawn Bradbury, assistant managing editor for real estate at U.S. News. Florida cities placed highly, taking eight of the top 25 places. Following Naples and Sarasota, Jacksonville (7), Pensacola (17), Tampa (18), Port St. Lucie (19), Melbourne (20), and Fort Myers (24) were the Florida cities ranked in the top 25. Other changes to this year’s scoring included focusing more on city-level data and not on data from surrounding metro areas. Please click on the link for more, courtesy of Community Foundation Of Sarasota County.

COURT WIN PAVES WAY FOR SIESTA KEY HOTEL

A Sarasota County developer’s recent court win means his Siesta Key hotel will include more than double the number of rooms as the current largest hotel at the popular Sarasota County island destination, with 112 rooms on about two acres along Midnight Pass Road. Sarasota County leaders agreed last month not to appeal the judge’s ruling that cleared the way for the planned hotel. The latest court decision in a battle over intense hotel development proposals came a year after Siesta Key resident Lourdes Ramirez successfully challenged the Sarasota County Commission’s 2021 approval of a different hotel proposal. That proposal, led by Robert Anderson, aimed to build 170 rooms in laid-back Siesta Key Village but was overturned by a court ruling in 2023 for violating growth management policies. Another hotel plan by Dr. Gary Kompothecras for 120 rooms was also successfully blocked. However, the 112-room project proposed by investor Dave Balot and approved in 2022 went unchallenged, leading Judge Hunter W. Carroll to rule in Balot’s favor. Sarasota County had initially stopped processing Balot’s application after Ramirez’s court victory, but Balot sued, arguing officials were unfairly blocking his development. At its last meeting, the Sarasota County Commission voted 4-1 not to appeal Carroll’s ruling, effectively allowing the project to move forward. Court Win Paves Way For Siesta Key Hotel.

$40 MILLION GOLF CLUB OPENS AT MYAKKA

The latest sign of premium development’s relentless eastward push in Sarasota and Manatee counties took center stage this week with the debut of the $40 million Soleta Golf Club, 45 minutes east of downtown Bradenton with two miles of frontage on the Myakka River. The private golf club, designed by PGA Tour Hall of Famer Nick Price, opened as the developer envisions another $40 million in investment, with plans for 93 luxury homes starting at $3 million. With 170 golf club memberships—ranging from $100,000 for local players to $50,000 for those outside a 60-mile radius—already sold, the target figure is 270, plus 100 national members. The 7,415-yard course was completed in 11 months despite storms and hurricanes. Price described the course as challenging yet playable, with “firm and bouncy” fairways for the first season. No industry may have benefited more from the COVID-19 pandemic than golf, with a resurgence in demand leading to investments in new courses across the Sarasota-Bradenton area. The city of Sarasota recently rebuilt its historic Bobby Jones Golf Course, transforming it into a more park-like setting. Soleta Golf Club continues to develop its facilities, with a clubhouse expected by late 2026 or early 2027. Local homebuilders John Cannon Homes and Anchor Builders are leading the residential development, with the first homes expected by November 2025. $40 Million Golf Club Opens At Myakka City.

ORCHESTRA ENLISTS LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

The Sarasota Orchestra has assembled the key firms to design and develop its planned music center, adding landscape architecture firm OJB to the team. OJB, based in Houston with offices nationwide, will collaborate with design architect William Rawn Associates, executive architect HKS, and engineering firm George F. Young. “They will work together to bring sensitivity to their design concept and create a phenomenal building,” said Joseph McKenna, president and CEO of Sarasota Orchestra. He emphasized the importance of integrating building functionality, civil engineering, and landscaping to create a welcoming environment for the next 100 years. OJB, founded in 1989, has worked on projects like Freedom Plaza in New York City and Omaha’s Gene Leahy Mall. The firm has also contributed to university campuses, corporate headquarters, and large-scale urban designs. The orchestra’s selection process narrowed a large field to six or seven finalists, with OJB emerging as the ideal fit. McKenna noted that all chosen firms share a strong collaborative approach. Despite delays due to back-to-back hurricanes, an initial development concept plan is expected by the end of the first quarter of 2025. Orchestra Enlists Landscape Architect.

SARASOTA BALLET ENDS ITS LONG HIBERNATION

If ever there were a long-awaited ballet premiere, Sir David Bintley’s “The Spider’s Feast” must be it. Six years after Sarasota Ballet Director Iain Webb first announced the commission, and four years after the pandemic forced its cancellation, the ballet is finally set to debut at the Sarasota Opera House. The production will share the stage with George Balanchine’s “Rubies” and Frederick Ashton’s “Les Patineurs.” Bintley initially created a version of this ballet in the late ‘90s for students at The Royal Ballet School, based on the 1912 score “Le Festin de l’araignée” by French composer Albert Roussel. Originally, it featured a sinister spider ultimately defeated by a praying mantis. A Comedy of Errors for Sarasota Ballet in 2022 delayed its completion further. Bintley found new inspiration in Sarasota Ballet soloist Ivan Spitale, whom he saw perform in 2018. That year, the company also staged Bintley’s “Still Life” at the Penguin Cafe. “I suddenly thought, ‘Wow, he would be a great spider!’” Bintley recalled. He adapted and expanded his original concept to better suit Sarasota’s talented dancers, making the choreography more challenging while staying true to his initial vision. Sarasota Ballet Ends Its Long Hibernation.

SELBY GAINS MORE NATIONAL ATTENTION

Months after Time magazine named Sarasota’s Selby Botanical Gardens one of the world’s greatest places, the Wall Street Journal is praising the design of the first phase of the gardens’ master plan. Selby is included in the newspaper’s review of the “Best Architecture of 2024: Accentuate the Personal.” Critic Michael Lewis wrote that during a visit earlier this year, “I was struck by the airy lightness of the entrance canopy, which was made as open as possible, with no sullen turnstile, and wondered how it would hold up in a hurricane. Now we know. Hurricane Helene, which buffeted Sarasota on Sept. 27, left Selby unscathed, including its irreplaceable plant research center that was intended to be hurricane-resilient.” He also noted that “Many of the year’s most successful projects – including New York’s Far Rockaway Library and the expansion of Florida’s Marie Selby Botanical Gardens – struck pleasingly human notes for all their impressive scale.” In January, Selby held a grand opening of three buildings that make up the first phase of a three-part master plan makeover of the 15-acre downtown Sarasota campus. The project includes the Morganroth Family Living Energy Access Facility, or LEAF, which encompasses a four-story parking garage topped with more than 2,000 solar panels, the new Green Orchid restaurant and a rooftop garden, as well as a new gift shop. Selby also opened the new open-air Jean Goldstein Welcome Center, which features ticket windows and a welcome gallery, and the Steinwachs Family Plant Research Center, which houses research facilities and administrative offices. With the opening of the 57,000-square-foot solar array, Selby is the first net-positive botanical garden in the world, producing more energy than it uses. In November, Selby reported that it had already raised about 66% of its goal for phase two of the master plan, which is expected to begin in late 2025. Phase Two will create a new hurricane-resilient glass house conservatory complex, an indoor/outdoor learning pavilion, and expanded garden features. It has raised more than $40.3 million of the $60.9 million goal. In a review earlier this year, Lewis wrote that Selby went about creating its new garden “in the most sophisticated and technologically innovative way imaginable. Happily, it has been done in a way that does full justice to the primal nature of a garden.” Selby Gains More National Attention.